DISCUSSION ON CATH LAB SET

Southeast Missouri Hospital wants to replace its oldest cardiac catherization lab at a cost of $1.7 million.

The Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee will discuss its request when it meets Monday in Jefferson City.

Approval from the state board is needed before the project can proceed. The staff recommends approval of replacement.

In September, the state board cleared the way for St. Francis Medical Center to add a second cath lab despite opposition from the Southeast Missouri Business Group on Health and the committee's own staff.

Opponents said there was no need for another lab in the area.

But Jim Wente, Southeast administrator, said there is a difference between the St. Francis project and the one at Southeast. "We are not adding a cath lab, simply replacing equipment that is 10 years old," he said.