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.

By Camie Young
Senior Writer

LAWRENCEVILLE - Legislators were dismayed to learn Monday that the hospital trying to thwart Gwinnett Medical Center's attempt to begin an open-heart surgery program recently refused the transfer of a patient in need of the operation.

To view coverage on Gwinnett Medical Center's open heart surgery fight from September 14, 2009, WSB-TV, click here.

Health tab still too costly for me

Join now in praising and applauding Piedmont Hospital. It drops a lawsuit to block Gwinnett Medical Center from establishing a program to provide open-heart surgeries, something the state has approved. The public-interest decision by Piedmont leaves only Emory University Hospital litigating against Gwinnett.

Click here to view this blog post online from the September 10, 2009 Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Senators Renee Unterman (R-Buford) and Don Balfour (R-Gwinnett) applauded the decision by Piedmont Hospital to drop their lawsuit which aimed to reverse the state’s approval of Gwinnett Medical Center’s open-heart surgery program.

"We are thrilled that Piedmont Hospital has chosen to do the right thing for the citizens of Gwinnett and for the medical community of Atlanta,” said Sen. Unterman. “It is my sincere hope that Emory will realize the lasting benefits of a cardiac program at the Gwinnett Medical Center and will follow suit by dropping their appeal."