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A state ruling is expected this week on proposed hospitals in Spotsylvania and Stafford counties

By JIM HALL

Date published: 8/23/2006

By JIM HALL

Residents should learn this week if Fredericksburg will host one, two or no new hospitals.

Dr. Robert B. Stroube, the state health commissioner, is expected to rule on the proposed hospitals by Friday. His decision will end an eight-month state review and chart the region's health-care future.

For more than 106 years, local residents have received inpatient care primarily at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg. Soon they may be able to choose from one or two new suburban hospitals in Spotsylvania and Stafford counties.

Stroube has two applications on his desk, one from MediCorp Health System, the parent company of Mary Washington, and the other from HCA Health Services of Virginia, part of the national HCA hospital chain.

MediCorp, a not-for-profit corporation, has proposed spending $158 million on a 100-bed, full-service hospital near the Stafford Courthouse.

HCA has proposed spending $151 million on a full-service hospital with 126 beds near the intersection of Interstate 95 and U.S. 1 at Massaponax.

The two companies seek certificates of public need, the construction permits required by the Virginia Department of Health. Stroube has the authority to award one, both or neither certificates. If either company dislikes Stroube's decision, a court appeal is possible.

The proposed sale of HCA Inc., the corporate parent, will not affect Stroube's decision, said Erik O. Bodin, director of the Division of Certificate of Public Need.

HCA has not notified the state of the sale, or how it might affect the Spotsylvania project, Bodin said in an e-mail.

"Since the applicant is its own corporation, tracing ultimate ownership back to HCA, we do not anticipate any impact from the sale of HCA on the project," Bodin said.

HCA Health Services of Virginia and the Spotsylvania Medical Center Inc. are subsidiaries of HCA Inc. A group of investors has offered to buy the parent company and take it private. The company this week received antitrust clearance from the Federal Trade Commission. Barring new developments, the sale should be completed by the end of the year.

The sale will not affect the Spotsylvania project or its timing, should the state grant a permit, said Mark A. Foust, vice president for marketing for HCA's Central Atlantic Division.

"HCA Virginia remains fully committed to building this hospital," Foust said.

To reach JIM HALL: 540/374-5433
Email: jhall@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 8/23/2006