SPEAKERS DIVIDED ON CARDIAC CATH LAB

A hearing Tuesday on a proposal to add another cardiac catheterization lab at St. Francis Medical Center produced support and opposition in about equal doses.

The medical center is seeking approval from the Missouri Department of Health to install the second lab at a cost of $1.76 million.

The hearing by the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee is part of the state's approval process.

A cardiac catheterization lab is used to diagnose heart diseases and also to perform heart procedures such as balloon angioplasty.

Those speaking for the added lab cited concerns about old equipment, increasing usage and long waiting periods.

Those against the project claimed that another lab represents duplication of service, and several opponents called for better cooperation between Cape Girardeau's two hospitals instead.

Southeast Missouri Hospital already has two of the cardiac catheterization labs.

Sixty people attended the hearing, which was held on the Southeast Missouri State University campus. Nine spoke in favor of the project, including several cardiologists and former patients at St. Francis. Eight spoke in opposition, including several members of the Southeast Missouri Business Group on Health.

A decision is slated to be made at the committee's Sept. 14 meeting.

Susan Pettit, chairman of the committee, and two other members of the committee, Sen. Peter Kinder and Jackie Herndon, listened to the comments.

Dale Rauh, director of The Heart Institute at St. Francis, said the second lab would allow the medical center to update equipment used in the diagnosis of heart ailments. The existing lab was installed in 1986.

A second lab would also make scheduling lab procedures easier for patients and families.

Rauh said the current lab could be updated at a cost of $670,000. However, he said, the quality still wouldn't match a new lab.

Bob Cranmer, president of the Southeast Missouri Business Group on Health, said he would support upgrading the existing equipment at St. Francis but couldn't go along with adding a second lab.

"I can see the two hospitals' working together to better utilize the three labs," Cranmer said.

Cardiologist C.R. Talbert said the hospitals have worked together to avoid duplication on other projects, specifically cancer care and obstetrics. But Talbert thinks cardiac care is different, because time delays can be fatal. He added that the number of heart patients is steadily increasing.

Dan Beard said at the hearing that the three labs already operating in Cape Girardeau aren't used as much as possible and cites the recommended addition as an example of duplicated services by the hospitals.

"I strongly recommend these two hospitals get together," he said.

Several others echoed his sentiments, criticizing what they see as duplication of other hospital services like helicopters and open-heart surgery.

Jess Hopple Sr. had bypass surgery 13 weeks ago at St. Francis and spoke Tuesday. He credits his recovery partly with good luck. When he needed the cardiac catheterization lab it was operating fine and wasn't already in use.

"Ask my wife if it is worth $1.7 million," Hopple said.