- Visit the Photo Place

Another hospital?

Follow us on

Will Fredericksburg get another hospital?

Date published: 12/9/2005

Another hospital?

Public need will drive decision

NEWS that not one, but two proposals for new Fredericks- burg area hospitals are being floated should have residents smiling. Not that Mary Washington Hospital is deficient--the century-old institution does a yeoman's job of handling the region's acute-care needs. But with the community growing at an exponential rate and traffic congestion slowing ambulance trips, the idea of an alternative is attractive.

MediCorp Health System, the organization that runs MWH, is proposing a 100-bed acute-care facility near Stafford Courthouse which would open around 2009. HCA, which operates 191 hospitals and 82 outpatient facilities in the U.S., England, and Switzerland, would like to open a 130-bed facility near Massaponax around the same time. Should either be built? Both? It'll be more than a flip of the coin that decides.

Since 1973, Virginia has had a "certificate of public need" law that outlines a highly regulated process through which medical facilities--from hospitals and nursing homes right down to individual CT scan machines--are approved by the state. Why? About half the money spent on medical care is paid for by the commonwealth through Medicaid, Medicare, and other programs. So Richmond has a vested interest in keeping costs down while maximizing access to care.

Both MediCorp and HCA, having filed letters of intent to build new hospitals, will have until Jan. 3 to submit applications for a "certificate of public need," required before any facility can be built. After the Virginia Department of Health reviews this initial application and clarifies any remaining questions, a 190-day evaluation process begins. The final call will be made by the commonwealth's commissioner of health.

Along the way, not only will VDH staff review the applications, but the Regional Health Planning Agency in Charlottesville will weigh in, holding public hearings and analyzing the proposals. Should the recommendations of the staff and the regional agency conflict, an administrative law judge will hear all sides and form yet another opinion.

Date published: 12/9/2005