Recordings reveal UNC doctors' concerns about pediatric heart program

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Secret recordings from meetings with cardiologists reveal disturbing concerns about the University of North Carolina's Children's Hospital.

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The New York Times investigated the Chapel Hill Pediatric Cardiology program and learned some doctors at the hospital wouldn't feel comfortable sending their own children there for care.

During one meeting in 2016, some of the doctors suspected patients with complex conditions were dying at higher than expected rates.

They were also concerned about children who were undergoing what should have been low-risk surgeries experiencing complications and pressed their division chief for answers.

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In a recording, the chief can be heard saying, "It's a nightmare right now," and describing the situation as a crisis.

According to the article, about 75 percent of the hospitals that perform pediatric heart surgery in the United States publicly share information on their death rate, but UNC doesn't.

The hospital eventually gave the Times some limited data for four years until June 2017 and the data showed the hospital had a higher death rate than nearly all of the 82 hospitals that publicly report the information.

According to the Times, UNC health care is defending the surgery program, describing it as "very strong" today. The hospital cites new leadership changes, including a new chief surgeon who was appointed last year.

Read the New York Times' full article here.

Cox Media Group