Cardiac Petition Deadline September 30

DANBURY –– There is a deadline of September 30 for those who wish to sign Danbury Hospital’s Certificate of Need (CON) application to the State of Connecticut for the right to provide advanced cardiology at the hospital.

Over the last three months, more than 15,000 people have signed the petition to support the hospital’s quest to bring angioplasty and open heart surgery to the greater Danbury area. The hospital is seeking approval to provide these services because the standard of care for treating heart attacks has changed, and because of the time and distance it takes to reach these services at other hospitals.

Available in hard copy or on the hospital’s website www.danburyhospital.org, the petition has reached residents in 150 Connecticut and New York towns, in addition to people from nine other states. All signatures received by September 30 will accompany the Hospital’s CON application to the Office of Health Care Access (OHCA), and the hospital will continue its petition drive throughout the fall months.

Danbury Hospital President and CEO Frank J. Kelly said, “We wish to thank everyone who has supported our plans thus far, and to salute the many employees, volunteers, patients, and visitors who have signed the petition and encouraged others to do so. We are impressed with the wide range of responses from so many communities throughout the region, where awareness is growing about the need for expanded cardiac care.”

To access the petition, visit www.danburyhospital.org where there is a web petition and printable individual and group petitions. Look for the red heart campaign logo and the words “Danbury Hospital –– Quality Cardiac Care.” To complete the petition online, click “Sign the Web Petition,” complete the form, and click “Submit Petition.” Only one signature per person is valid, whether submitted as a hard copy or website petition.

Hard copy petitions also are available at the hospital’s information desks, cafeteria, and the waiting areas of cardiology, emergency department, radiology reception, and human resources. Signed petitions should be returned to the collection boxes in the hospital lobbies or to Danbury Hospital Community Relations, 24 Hospital Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810, or by fax at 203-830-2093. For general information about the campaign, call 797-7247.