UMC cardiology department rated among best nationally

UMC officials face the challenge of maintaining the same quality care that ranked the facility as one of the top cardiology centers in the nation, while attempting to solve budget problems by eliminating positions.

Officials will eliminate 60 jobs within the hospital - without creating layoffs - during a period of 90 days to help make up for last year's $6 million deficit.

"Over time, high quality does not equal high cost," said University Medical Center President and CEO Greg Pivirotto. "Clearly we have top programs in areas like heart and cancer, but we also have to compete. We have to maintain, improve and also be cost effective."

U.S. News and World Report announced in its annual guide to "America's Best Hospitals" that UMC ranks 35th among cardiac care and heart surgery centers in the country. The publication considers any rank in the top 50 to be a leading center.

"The center stands out because of the excellent people," said Dr. Gordon A. Ewy, director of the Sarver Heart Center. "We're fortunate to be able to attract and hold good people."

For the third year in a row, U. S. News ranked UMC as a leading center for cardiac care, based on reputation, mortality rate and other medical data.

This year, Dr. Jack Copeland, who 20 years ago performed the state's first heart transplant, performed his 500th transplant at the UMC.

"The medical center has supported us very well," said Ewy, who has been with UMC since 1969. "We take a lot of pride in the ranking. It is nice to be recognized."

Delivering expertise like that in the cardiology department despite budget cuts is the hospital's goal, Pivirotto said.

UMC has adopted the Employment Protection Plan to eliminate the 60 hospital positions without terminating employees.

Under the plan, those employees whose positions are being eliminated can transfer to another department, while keeping their same pay and benefits for up to a year.

"Basically, we're moving people around in order to streamline," Pivirotto said. "It is not affecting bedside care and not eliminating any nurses."

To combat the expected loss of about $24 million in Medicare payments through 2002 as a result of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, UMC ultimately needed to eliminate about 200 positions.

Additionally, UMC will cut its non-wage expenses by $5 million this year.