Sen. Shafer Lends State Legislative Voice for Future Cardiac Patients

Submitted by Senate Press Office
Monday, 14 September 2009

Today Sen. David Shafer (R- Duluth) and the Gwinnett County Legislative Delegation moved to support Gwinnett Medical Center's application for a certificate of need to offer open heart surgery. Emory University Hospital is seeking to block Gwinnett from offering vital cardiac procedures.

"Gwinnett is the largest county in America that is not able to offer its residents a full range of cardiac services," said Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth).  "We do not understand why Emory -- an ostensibly charitable institution -- is attempting to block the provision of these life saving services in our community."

The application has been approved by the Georgia Department of Community Health, but was challenged in separate lawsuits filed by both Piedmont and Emory University Hospitals. Piedmont's challenge was dropped late last week but Emory University Hospital is still seeking to overturn the approval and obstruct Gwinnett from offering this service.

Click here to view this article online from the September 14, 2009 Talk Gwinnett.