Georgia medical center gets OK from state for new project

Gwinnett Medical Center has received approval from the state to establish an open-heart surgery program in Lawrenceville, GA. The Georgia Department of Community Health approved the hospital's Certificate of Need application for a $33 million cardiovascular center. The hospital filed for the CON in January, but the effort actually began last October when the hospital created a dedicated Web site for the cause. GMC collected 1,000 letters and testimonials from local residents supporting its quest for a complete cardiovascular center.