Hartford hospital suspends elective cardiac surgeries

Hartford, CT-based St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, which advertises its cardiovascular program as the largest open-heart surgery center in the state, has temporarily halted all non-emergency cardiac surgeries at the recommendation of state health officials. The decision to suspend the elective cardiac surgery program was voluntary, but comes as the state Department of Public Health investigates the hospital, health department spokeswoman Diana Lejardi said. She said the suspension occurred because of "quality of care issues."