Salem Hospital to Discontinue Cardiac Surgery This Summer

SALEM, MA—Patients needing cardiac surgery will have to seek options outside of Salem Hospital, as the hospital will be discontinuing its cardiac surgery service on August 17.

The hospital notified the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on May 19 that it will no longer be offering cardiac surgery due to low utilization rates. The hospital will still be providing all of its standard non-surgical services, including general cardiology, elective and emergency angioplasty. 

According to the notice sent from the hospital to the department of public health, the Partners Healthcare system believed that operating two cardiac surgery programs in close proximity resulted in an unnecessary duplication of services. The system also operates cardiac surgery services at Massachusetts General Hospital(MGH). 

The notice also added that 37 percent of patients in Salem Hospital's primary service area had their surgery at MGH as opposed to at Salem Hospital. The hospital will discontinue the operation of the unit on August 17. 

Photo Credit: Salem Hospital