
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 6, 1994                   TAG: 9402060084
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: D4   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

WYTHE WAS CONSIDERED FOR NEW CANCER CENTER

Radford Community Hospital, in an effort to gain the edge in the competition to build a cancer-treatment center for the New River Valley, discussed changing its proposed site to Wythe County.

But Radford dropped the plan after an attorney for its competitor, Pulaski Community Hospital, pointed out to the state health commissioner that such a change would mean Radford would have to withdraw from the competition.

The behind-the-scenes maneuvering continued up to Wednesday night's meeting of the Southwest Virginia Health Systems Agency board of directors, which recommended 13-0 that the health commissioner deny applications from both hospitals for certificates of need.

The commissioner could decide on the competing applications by late spring.

The board encouraged the competing hospitals - Pulaski, part of the for-profit HealthTrust Inc.; Radford, with the nonprofit Carilion Health System - to come up with a joint proposal despite four months of unsuccessful negotiations last year.

The commissioners agreed that the New River Valley and other counties to the south need better access to a radiation therapy center, but wanted a solution that would be best for both hospitals and all patients.

Placing the radiation therapy center at Wythe County Community Hospital still may be a possibility. Howard Ainsley, chief executive officer of the hospital, said Friday, "It makes good sense to have it here."

Last week's discussions, which started after the Health Systems Agency staff recommended the board endorse the Pulaski proposal, involved Radford, Wythe and Giles hospitals, all part of Carilion, and independent nonprofit hospitals in Marion and Galax.

If the hospitals came to an agreement on a joint venture, one of the current applications would have to be withdrawn and the remaining one amended, said Ken Cook, executive director of the Health Systems Agency.

For now, though, both Pulaski and Radford are sticking with their original proposals.

by CNB