Gwinnett Medical Center to Partner with Saint Joseph's for Open Heart Program and Cardiovascular Services

ATLANTA (April 29, 2008) - Gwinnett Medical Center (GMC) and Saint Joseph's Health System (SJHA) have joined forces to create Gwinnett Cardiovascular Services (GCVS), a collaborative arrangement designed to ensure that the most advanced cardiac services, including open heart surgery services, are available in Gwinnett County quickly.

   In January, Gwinnett Medical Center submitted its certificate of need
(CON) application to the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) to develop the open heart program on the campus of its flagship hospital in Lawrenceville. Gwinnett County is the largest county in the nation that does not have an open heart surgery program within its boundaries, and Gwinnett Medical Center's CON application has attracted widespread support from local leaders and citizens. A decision from DCH is expected by June, 2008.

   "When we launched our open heart campaign last October, we looked for ways to create a best-in-class program from day one," said Phil Wolfe, president and CEO of Gwinnett Medical Center. "Collaboration with Saint Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta means that a nationally- recognized leader in the provision of open heart surgery and other cardiovascular services will assist Gwinnett Medical Center as we develop similar programs and services here in Gwinnett."

   Gwinnett Cardiovascular Services will be jointly owned and managed by GMC and SJHA, and Saint Joseph's will provide non-exclusive consultative services through GCVS, including training and clinical advisory support, to GMC's cardiovascular center of excellence, which will include open heart surgery services upon receipt of CON approval from DCH. The collaboration through Gwinnett Cardiovascular Services will make certain that the open heart surgery program and other expanded services achieve the highest quality and patient satisfaction standards already established by Saint Joseph's.

   "GMC and the cardiologists who already serve Gwinnett County have longstanding relationships with Saint Joseph's, which is recognized as home to one of the nation's finest cardiovascular programs," said Kirk Wilson, president and CEO of Saint Joseph's Health System. "To infuse the expertise that Saint Joseph's offers into a new state-of-the-art open heart program at GMC makes sense from a business standpoint, but more importantly, from a quality of care standpoint for the people of the community."

   For more information, visit www.OpenHeartGwinnett.org