FAIRHOPE, Ala. - Thomas Hospital currently has two cardiac catheterization rooms that are also used for non-cardiac cases, but recently the hospital proposed to the State Health Planning and Development Agency that the electrophysiology room also be used for cardiac cases since the equipment is capable of such cases and patient and employee scheduling would benefit.

Doug Garner, vice president of administration, said, “it is the most cost-effective option available.”

“The purpose for this … is to enhance patient scheduling and equipment efficiency by spreading the existing cardiac and non-cardiac caths over three rooms rather than two.”

Supplies for the new room would cost $176,525 for the first year, plus an additional $10,000 for predevelopment and $10,000 for contingency, according to the plan’s cost table.

The new room would be operational in March 2011 to begin helping patients, Garner said.

“The population group most utilizing cardiac caths are those 65 years and older but evidence of cardiovascular disease does not discriminate any adult age,” he said.

Three rooms would be available for procedures such as emergency cardiac stinting, electrophysiology of the heart, peripheral vascular procedures and radiology special procedures and as a backup for open-heart surgery.

The proposal will go to the agency’s board for a decision on April 20 so long as it remains uncontested, according to Nicole Horn, executive secretary.

“They will look at costs, see if there are any detrimental impacts and determine needs of the community,” she said.

After the verbal decision is given on April 20, they will mail the written decision on May 5, she said.

If anyone wishes to submit a statement or appear before the Certificate of Need Review Board, he or she must do so on or before Feb. 22 and provide a copy of statements to Gary Griffin, health care advisor at Gary Griffin & Associates Inc., P. O. Box 8551, Gadsden, AL 35902; the application number is AL2011-014.