Cardiac center won’t dilute care, raise costs

I have read the recent letters concerning a cardiac surgery program at Lexington Medical Center by Dr. Don Alexander and Dr. Scott J. Petit, representing the view of Palmetto Health Hospitals, and Dr. Edward M. Leppard, representing the view of Providence Hospital.

Based on the practice patterns of these physicians, I believe that these letters are biased toward their respective hospitals and their own private practices.

I am a board-certified internal medicine physician who has been in practice for 26 years in West Columbia, practicing totally at Lexington Medical Center.

I am not a cardiologist or a cardiac surgeon. However, I do understand the medical politics of this issue. It will not surprise anyone that I believe Lexington Medical Center should have its own cardiac surgery program. But, I have nothing to gain by this position, as I do not perform cardiac catheterizations or cardiac surgery. My cardiac patients go to all three hospitals.

Many people do not realize that medical and hospital charges have been severely regulated and reduced by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers. The addition of another cardiac surgery program in the Midlands will not increase costs because the charges cannot be raised.

The few procedures taken away from the downtown hospitals by Lexington Medical Center will not reduce the quality of the other programs, as those hospitals will have more than enough procedures to satisfy the standards of medical care.

It is important for the Midlands to know that time is cardiac tissue, potential disability and possible death. It is our sworn obligation as physicians to do no harm and to provide the best care for our patients. I do not believe that the denial of a cardiac program at a premier and busy facility such as Lexington Medical Center in a growing area with an aging population is in the best interest of our patients.

JOHN G. BLACK, M.D.

West Columbia