CMC Withdraws Cardiac Care Center Application

Community Medical Center reportedly withdraws its application to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services to open a Cardiac Care Center in Toms River. According to PhillyBurbs.com, on Friday, the hospital made reference to a study being conducted by the State Health Commissioner to review current and future cardiac services and elective angioplasty service delivery as the reason.

The Saint Barnabas-affiliated hospital had submitted two previous applications and was rejected.

There was also concern from Deborah Heart & Lung Center in Pemberton about the effect a cardiac facility at Community Medical Center would have on the facility and the Burlington County economy. The 90-year old center says the majority of its 70,000 patient visits in 2011 were from Ocean County, which has no cardiac facility within its borders.

“Our offer to collaborate with Community to better serve our mutual patients remains open. At a time when patients, employers, payers and governments are searching for ways to reduce the cost of health care, we maintain that collaboration among providers to reduce waste and avoid competitive and underutilized programs just makes sense,” said Joseph P. Chirichella, president and CEO of Deborah.