Gwinnett Medical Center has submitted its application with state health officials to provide open heart surgery and related services. The certificate of need application was submitted to the state’s Department of Community Health, which will now begin a formal review process.
GMC’s application also provides compelling rationale as to why the need exists. Gwinnett is the most populated county in the nation without an open heart program. The county’s current population of more than 750,000 is expected to exceed 1 million within the next eight years. Gwinnett residents must travel over some of the nation’s most congested roads to reach the nearest facility offering open heart services.