Resolution Commends Lexington Medical Center and Providence Hospitals
March 6, 2009
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – March 6, 2009 – The South Carolina General Assembly has passed a concurrent resolution commending Lexington Medical Center and Providence Hospitals for “collaboratively working to improve medical care for the citizens of the Midlands of South Carolina.” The resolution is in response to a significant agreement the hospitals reached recently that serves to improve access to care.
On February 25, 2009, the hospitals announced that Providence Hospitals will support Lexington Medical Center’s efforts to secure an open heart surgery program and Lexington Medical Center will drop its objections to a proposed expansion at Providence Hospitals Northeast.
The resolution, introduced by senators Nikki Setzler, Jake Knotts, John Courson and Ronnie Cromer, and passed by both the state Senate and the state House of Representatives, states “the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, congratulate and commend Providence Hospitals and Lexington Medical Center, their leadership and employees for forging an agreement to work collaboratively for the betterment of the health and well-being of their patients and the citizens of the Midlands of South Carolina.”
Under the hospitals’ agreement, Providence Hospitals will support Lexington Medical Center in seeking regulatory approval through a joint Certificate of Need (CON) application. Within the application, Lexington Medical Center will request approval for one open heart surgery suite and the authority to perform open heart surgery and therapeutic cardiac catheterizations. If approved by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), Providence Hospitals will de-license one of its open heart surgery suites, allowing Lexington Medical Center to add a suite, in keeping with the 2008-2009 State Health Plan.
Lexington Medical Center has dismissed its lawsuit which opposes Providence Hospitals’ plans to expand and improve its existing Northeast facility. Additionally, Lexington Medical Center, upon licensing of the new heart program, would provide $15 million over a three-year period to Providence Hospitals in consideration of de-licensing one open heart surgery suite. Those funds will allow Providence Hospitals to reinvest in technologies and equipment for other service lines.
About Lexington Medical Center
Lexington Medical Center, in West Columbia, S.C., anchors a county-wide health care network that includes six community medical centers throughout Lexington County and employs a staff of 5,100 health care professionals. The network also includes the largest extended care facility in the state, an occupational health center and physician practices. At its heart is the 384-bed state-of-the-art Lexington Medical Center, with a reputation for the highest quality care. Lexington Medical Center was voted one of the “Best Places to Work” by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, “Best Hospital” by readers of The State for nine years in a row, “Best Hospital” by readers of the Free Times and “Best Place to Have a Baby” by readers of Palmetto Parent. Visit www.lexmed.com or www.lexmed.tv.
About Providence Hospitals
Sponsored by the Sisters of Charity Health System, Providence Hospitals was founded by the Sisters of Charity in 1938 and is known statewide for its compassionate care. This non-profit organization is licensed for 304 beds at its downtown and Northeast facilities and employs more than 1,900 caring individuals. Providence Heart & Vascular Institute is recognized nationally as a referral center for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease with several national rankings for quality outcomes including the Society for Thoracic Surgeons and the American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines Coronary Artery Disease program. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina recently designated Providence Heart & Vascular Institute as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care, signifying Providence’s commitment to quality care, resulting in better overall outcomes for cardiac patients. Learn more at www.providencehospitals.com.
