The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced on Tuesday, April 10 that Cape Cod Hospital’s application to perform open-heart procedures has been approved. As a result, Cape Cod Hospital will partner with BWH to provide this new community-based service. “We are excited about working with Cape Cod Hospital to create a new cardiac surgery program. Over the years, we have enjoyed a strong relationship with many of the cardiologists at Cape Cod Hospital and see this as a further strengthening of that clinical relationship. We are looking forward to providing the surgical staffing for the open-heart program,” said Jeffrey Otten, BWH President.
The Department also approved the applications from North Shore Medical Center, who partnered with MGH, and Southcoast Hospitals Group, who partnered with New England Medical Center. “One of Partners’ goals is to improve the care of our patients by extending sophisticated treatments into the community. This cardiac surgery collaboration between Cape Cod and BWH is an excellent example of that approach and will greatly benefit patients on Cape Cod,” said Samuel Thier, MD, president and CEO of Partners HealthCare System.
BWH will assist CCH in the development and operation of the program. Cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists and perfusionists from BWH will be located on Cape Cod full time, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Stephen L. Abbott, President and CEO of Cape Cod Healthcare, stated, “We are delighted that CCH was selected from among a very impressive list of hospitals. On Cape Cod, there is a high incidence of heart disease because of the older population of the area. Thus, having local access to open heart procedures will offer a viable alternative to traveling to Boston when cardiovascular surgery is necessary.”
Planning for CCH’s new open-heart surgery program is currently underway and the program is anticipated to begin by March 2002.