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Virtual medical procedure fails
A plan for a virtual colonoscopy service in Fredericksburg suffered an early setback yesterday
Date published: 7/8/2009
BY JIM HALL Dr. Frank DeTrane's plan for a virtual colonoscopy service suffered a setback yesterday when a regional health advisory group rejected it. The board of directors of the Northwestern Virginia Health Systems Agency, meeting in Culpeper, voted 10-8 to recommend to the state health commissioner that she deny his proposal. "I'm so disappointed," DeTrane said after the meeting. "I don't think I lost today as much as the people of Fredericksburg lost today." DeTrane, leader of the area's largest gastroenterology practice, has said he's ready to spend nearly $770,000 to buy a CT scanner, install it beside Patients would be screened for colon cancer using one or both technologies. The service would be the first of its kind in Virginia, modeled after similar programs in Maryland, Delaware and Wisconsin. "It's a novel idea, but it makes so much sense," he told the panel. Yesterday's hearing was DeTrane's second stop in the state regulatory process. The Virginia Department of Health requires developers to obtain a "certificate of public need" before starting a major health project. The process includes local and regional hearings before panels of citizen volunteers. Last month DeTrane won the support of the Rappahannock Health Advisory Council. Now he and his plan will march to Richmond with one recommendation for and another against. Dr. Karen Remley, state health commissioner, will make the final decision, possibly this fall. As he did last month, DeTrane again ran into opposition from MediCorp Health System, parent company of Mary Washington Hospital and Stafford Hospital Center. Phil Brown, a MediCorp executive and member of both advisory groups, said that DeTrane is bound by a deed restriction he signed in 2005, when he and his partners bought the land for their office from MediCorp. The office is located on the hill behind Mary Washington Hospital, near Cowan Boulevard. "Every physician that built on this particular site has this same exact deed restriction," Brown said. "The deed restriction is to protect MediCorp's interest." Brown added, "We intend to enforce our deed restriction. They will have to find another location for their project." Other members of the panel noted that the Fredericksburg area already has 11 existing or approved CT scanners, and that those scanners aren't busy enough to justify adding another, according to state standards. "I can't see how we can possibly vote to approve this," said Louis Hodges. Several members of the group said that virtual colonoscopy was a good idea, and they asked DeTrane to work with MediCorp to provide the service. But after the meeting, DeTrane said he was not optimistic about an alliance. "I have been trying since Day 1 to work with them," he said. "But it's either their way or no way. They want to control the market. They want to be able to have no competition, and they're going to use their influence to make it that way." Jim Hall: 540/374-5433
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 7/8/2009
I believe Medicorp is
(posted by
mustang2
, July 8, 2009 3:06 pm)
a non profit organization. I am glad HCA is coming.
Monopoly is a bad thing because one does not have to
improve. That said, Mary Washington has improved
tremendously in the last several years. One does not have
to leave town for most things these days. It's really not a
good idea to condemn committee members when you
simply do not know whether or not they have vested
interests in Medicorp.
The Free Market at Work
(posted by
Einstein
, July 8, 2009 1:42 pm)
baffles me that people rant hysterically about the "Gobernment!!" getting into health care. Try being at the mercy of a profit driven entity who will make decision about your health based on a dollar.
Committee was bullied
(posted by
DeanFetterolf
, July 8, 2009 1:12 pm)
Sure sounds like the committee was being bullied by Medicorp and its greed. The deed restriction is independant of the "certificate of public need" and should not have been part of the discussion.
I agree: Greed
(posted by
sljohnson
, July 8, 2009 12:33 pm)
Microsoft a monopoly??? Not compared to Medicorp!
PURE GREED
(posted by
shelbybrynn
, July 8, 2009 11:05 am)
I am so sick of hearing about Medicorp and their greedy ways. They "want to protect Medicorp's interests"?!?! What about what's in the best interest of the citizens of this community. You know the ones whose lives can actually be saved by this procedure. The people need to send a clear message to Medicorp!!
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