More Heart Stent Data raises More Questions

The initial frenzy over St. Josephs Hospital unusually great implantation of heart stents may spread to other area hospitals. The Baltimore Sun has made FOIA requests for medical data which reflects the fact that Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore City and Washington Adventist Hospital in Montgomery County have higher than average stent placement.

You may recall that St. Josephs of Towson, Maryland was obliged to inform 585 patients that they may have undergone unnecessary stent placement.

The Health Services Cost Review Commission data is not remotely dispositive of  whether stent placements were appropriate or not but certainly the St. Josephs controversy will increase scrutiny on Union Memorial and Washington Adventist Hospitals.