January 28, 2009

WATERBURY DELEGATION EFFORT KEEPS HEART CENTER ALIVE

Hartford - The Waterbury legislative delegation's efforts in support of the continuation of services provided by the Heart Center of Greater Waterbury paid off when the commissioner of the State Office of Health Care Access formally signed a notice of final decision granting the center a permanent operating license.

The Heart Center provides advanced cardiac care at St. Mary's and Waterbury hospitals and is credited with saving many lives by providing care that would otherwise be delayed in transporting patients to another facility. Since 2005, the center has performed over two thousand angioplasties, over three hundred emergency procedures and over seven hundred open heart surgeries.

Operating on a three-year demonstration project, the Waterbury delegation, bolstered by the testimony of many first-hand recipients of services, successfully campaigned to keep the center open.

"I am thrilled that the Commissioner heard the voices that stood up and fought for the Heart Center that has provided and will continue to provide life saving services for the Greater Waterbury area. I am thankful for all of the people that came out to add their voice to fight for the center. I'm also proud to be one of those voices and would like to believe together, we made that difference," Rep. Larry B. Butler (D- 72nd District) said.

"I am pleased the work with the two hospitals certainly won an important battle and a confirmation of a successful program with the State Office of Health Care Access' ruling," Rep. Jeff Berger (D-73rd District) said. "I am thrilled that many patients in the greater Waterbury area will continue to benefit from the excellent service the Heart Center provides."

"A few minutes can mean the difference between life and death when it comes to critical first response cardiac care," Rep. David Aldarondo (D-75th District) said. "I am pleased that our concerted effort was successful and the Heart Center will continue to save lives."

"Of course I am relieved and elated that the issue of the continuation of the Heart Center in Waterbury has been positively resolved," said Sen. Joan Hartley (D-15th District). "I would like to personally commend the citizenry, business community, Chamber, University of Connecticut John Dempsey Hospital and all those who worked shoulder to shoulder with myself and the delegation to realize this successful and most needed outcome."