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Witnesses Tell Appropriations Panel Georgia's Emergency Cardiac Program Is Understaffed and Underfunded
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Summary
A cardiologist told the committee that Georgia's Office of Cardiac Care has improved outcomes but remains thinly staffed and lacks grant funding to expand certification and rural services; he urged investment in staffing, data specialists and grants directed to rural hospitals.
John Jeff, a cardiologist who identified himself during testimony, told the Appropriations committee the Office of Cardiac Care has established statewide certification, treatment and transport protocols but remains "woefully underfunded and understaffed." He said the office's data collection (OASIS) now shows a decreasing mortality trend for STEMI and out-of-hospital cardiac arrests but that program capacity is limited by staffing and grant shortfalls.
Jeff said the office was created by law that took effect July 1, 2017, and its responsibilities include certifying emergency cardiac care centers, maintaining a statewide database and administering an unfunded grant program to improve quality, particularly in rural areas. "Processes of care have proven to reduce mortality, and we've shown that in Georgia," he said, arguing that the state should fund the program to expand level-3 coverage and support rural hospitals' readiness.
He provided a snapshot of certification status: 20 designated level-1 hospitals (one open-heart program pending), 19 level-2 (with five pending), and 11 level-3 centers (six pending), and said the office currently employs three staff members plus a fourth funded by a grant who serves as an epidemiologist. He recommended funding data specialists to transform four years of collected data into actionable reports for planning and oversight.
Jeff contrasted disease burden and funding: cardiovascular disease accounts for about 30% of Georgians' deaths while the office's funding is modest compared with stroke and trauma programs. He said much of the approximately $3.8 million budget proposal he discussed would support the office's statutory grant mandate, which he said should be targeted to rural hospitals to help them maintain 24/7 readiness and cover the fiscal costs of emergency teams.
Committee members asked for a map showing pending certifications in rural areas; Jeff said he would obtain one from the Office of Cardiac Care. The hearing produced no formal motion or vote; witnesses were asked to provide follow-up materials.
