Hospital Files Cardiology Petition

DANBURY — On December 12, Danbury Hospital filed its Certificate of Need (CON) application with the State of Connecticut Office of Health Care Access to establish a primary and elective angioplasty and open heart surgery program. Accompanying the application were more than 20,000 signatures of support from business leaders, elected officials, physicians, nurses, trade unions, and the community at large, according to Gerard D. Ribilotti, executive vice president, Danbury Hospital.

“With appropriate approval from the state, our community strongly supports our commitment to bring more advanced cardiology services to western Connecticut,” said Mr Robilotti, “The standard of care for treating heart attacks has changed, and the time and distance it takes to reach these services in other communities does not allow optimal care for our patients.”

Paul B. Iannini, MD, chairman, Department of Medicine, said, “Citizens from our area are being put at risk because we’re geographically isolated and lack immediate access to advanced interventional cardiology. Our patients are inconvenienced by having to travel, as are their families, to obtain these services from cardiologists that they have never seen before.

“Most hospitals the size of Danbury in other states have these services, and our program will be of the highest quality with experienced teams who produce excellent outcomes,” Dr Iannini said.

According to Keith A. Hovan, senior vice president, operations, public support for the program has come from more than 150 Connecticut and New York towns, as well as patients’ extended families in 11 other states, who have signed petitions and written letters to voice their support.

“We have every indication that our community wants this level of care closer to home, and the medical community has validated that need. Our interactions with the community will not stop now that we have filed the CON application. The hard work begins now,” he said. “We will be taking every opportunity to further educate our legislators, business leaders, and people throughout the community, so they can support this initiative and make contact with the decisionmakers in Hartford. The next three months will be very important to prepare for these needed services in our community.”

Supporters can still sign the web petition by logging into www.danburyhospital.org. There is a red heart campaign logo and the words “Danbury Hospital –– Quality Cardiac Care.” Click on “Sign the Web Petition” to complete the form, and click “Submit Petition.” Note that only one signature per person is valid, whether submitted as a hard copy or website petition.

For information about the advanced cardiology plans at Danbury Hospital, call 797-7247.