In Elyria, Ohio, patients with blocked coronary arteries are four times as likely to undergo angioplasties than patients elsewhere in the nation. There's no evidence that providers are doing something wrong, but the statistics are so unusual that Medicare has taken notice and is investigating the phenomenon. "As it turns out, nearly all the procedures at the Elyria hospital are performed by a group of cardiologists who dominate coronary care in [Elyria] and have an unabashed enthusiasm for angioplasties, the highly profitable procedure in which they specialize," observed The New York Times. A spokesperson for the group says the high angioplasty rate is simply the result of cardiologist detecting disease early and treating it aggressively. Critics say that despite the fact the doctors aren't putting anyone in danger, the unusually high number of procedures demonstrates that doctors' medical decisions can be influenced by financial factors.
For details on the Elyria angioplasty phenomenon:
- check out this piece in The New York Times