UAMS halts program for cardiac surgery

LITTLE ROCK—The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has suspended its cardiac surgery program while it recruits another physician.

Officials informed staff of the suspension on Wednesday, citing inadequate surgery coverage after a lead surgeon retired, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.

“We hope for an expedient resolution of this situation,” officials told staff.

Drs. Christopher Westfall and Richard Turnage said the “decision was made in the interest of safety for our patients.” They noted that there haven’t been any safety concerns or events.

UAMS spokesman Leslie Taylor said that the Baptist Health Medical Center and Arkansas Heart Hospital have agreed to take UAMS patients needing cardiac surgery. She said the medical school has also reached out to CHI St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center for assistance.

“We will be on ambulance diversion for patients who are known to require cardiac surgery,” Taylor said in an email interview Thursday. “We will treat patients with chest pain or heart attacks as many of those do not require surgery, at least emergently. If it becomes apparent that we have received a patient who needs cardiac surgery, we will stabilize that patient and transfer him or her to another hospital.”

Taylor said UAMS treated 10 cardiac patients in March and 14 in April.

She said the suspension won’t affect the hospital’s trauma program, which has 24/7 surgeons.

“We have thoracic surgeons and other surgeons in house 24/7 and we have our part-time cardiac surgeon,” Taylor said.