Supporters of St. John Medical Center’s plans to expand its cardiology department to perform heart procedures turned out in force Friday to give testimony to the state Department of Health. Those supporters included a spokesman from a competing hospital.

“We were the first hospital in the Northwest Territory and have a 150-year history of providing care,” said Ben Stokes, executive director of vascular services at Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver. “We offer comprehensive cardiac services … and actively participate in the granting rules process. We do not oppose this application.”

Stokes was among the 35 people who spoke at the hearing held at the Cowlitz County PUD auditorium. About 50 people were in attendance.

St. John wants permission to perform elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), commonly known as angioplasty. The procedure involves inserting a balloon into a blocked artery using a catheter. Often, a mesh stent also is inserted to hold the blocked artery open.

Adding the procedure would allow St. John to increase all of its cardiac services, hospital officials have said, because it would make it easier to attract cardiologists to the area.

Approval would mean attracting other businesses, as well, Ted Sprague, Cowlitz County Economic Development Council president, told Janis Sigman and Mark Thomas the hearing panel for the state Department of Health.

“Our goal is to recruit and keep family-wage jobs,” Sprague said. “Having the widest and best health care quality available helps in our recruitment.”

Others who testified included county, city and hospital officials, physicians and other health care providers, the Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce and people who have had experiences needing to travel to Portland for cardiac care.

Mary Crawford told about her husband’s angiogram, which showed he had two blocked arteries.

“He was sent to a cardiologist in Portland as an outpatient. When we saw the surgeon, he agreed (my husband) needed two stents and it was going to be three weeks before he could have it done,” she said. “I realized that at any moment one of those arteries could close and we were an hour away. On the day of the procedure, I sat in the waiting room all by myself because family and friends were here in Longview.”

Crawford said it would have been possible for her husband to receive the stents at the time of the angiogram at St. John, if doctors were allowed to perform the procedure here.

“He lost over a month of work (as a firefighter), there was stress on all of us. All of that would not have been necessary,” she said.

St. John received support from across the Columbia River as well.

“Columbia County is most medically underserved, and the north county has no medical services at all,” Columbia County Commissioner Earl Fisher said. “Because of the distance to state-of-the-art facilities in Portland, our people are in great risk due to distance and being farther away from home and family. Our population is aging, which means, among other things, we are more likely to need top-notch medical services. St. John serves this region on both sides of the river and serves admirably.”

Many of those who testified cited the Lower Columbia region’s high incidence of obesity, smoking and other health risks making heart disease the No. 2 killer here. The area’s incidence of heart disease is 20 percent higher than other parts of the state, health officials have said.

St. John has a partnership with Oregon Health & Science University in Portland for their cardiologists to perform elective and emergency PCIs. Until the state Department of Health gives the OK for the hospital to perform angioplasty surgery, cardiac patients will continue going to Portland hospitals for the procedures, whether for emergencies or elective surgery.

St. John has until Aug. 17 to respond to the public testimony given Friday, as well as other comments and letters the Department of Health has already received, Sigman said after the hearing. The state’s ruling is expected Oct. 1.

Related article:

Department of Health to hold public hearing over St. John's request to perform angioplasties  (July 21)

Orcutt backs St. John bid to offer elective procedures  (Oct. 23, 2008)

St. John still faces hurdles in bid to offer elective angioplasties  (Aug. 26, 2008)

St. John officials voice opposition to new cardiac rules  (July 9, 2008)

New rules could hinder cardiology expansion at St. John  (July 2, 2008)