Ablation = IBG business

[Guest guest]

Hi Fibbers,

It is with some sadness I report to you what is happening

here in Northern California.

1. Yesterday there was a huge advertisement in the paper

for " The newest surgical alternative that may help you

BEAT A-FIB. "

Why sadness? There was a group of doctors in N. Cal that

were caught doing many heart operations on patients who

did NOT need them. They were prosecuted, but that left

excess capacity -- so now there is advertising and holding

free seminars to attract patients to have heart procedures.

(They are located 200 miles from the city where they advertised).

2. I received a fancy brochure in the mail from a hospital

boasting: (exact quotes)

our hospital " provides one of the largest cardiac programs in the United

States, and has one of the highest volumes in California, with

more than 1,300 open heart surgeries, 3,700 cardiac catheterization procedures

and 1,200 electrophysiolo-gy and pacemaker procedures performed ANNUALLY. "

That's right, with only a handful of EP's and only one EP operating room, they

have been doing 6,000 procedures ANNUALLY.

People on this board had a hard time believing me about their volume,

but I have it in writing from Mercy General Hospital.

They are advertising because they are doing a $150 million expansion, most it

cardia cath & surgery. They will have -=--

FOUR operating rooms and FOUR cardiac catheterization labs (that is an Operating

Room dedicated to this.)

MY TAKE: Ask me off-board.

I say I was deeply saddened by these advertising campaigns because I was part of

their growth ... a tidy six-figure sum was paid by me and my insurance company

to this entity. But the EP fired me as after three failed ablations, writing in

his report that I was NEVER in sinus rhythm.

I am just one case. But I'm living proof that an EP (who is a surgeon) should

never be substituted for having one's own cardiologist -- who considers the big

picture.

I hope someone responds with " I get it. "

LJ