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

DATE: SUNDAY, October 9, 1994                   TAG: 9410100086
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-10   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY  
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

AROUND NEW RIVER

WYTHEVILLE - Wythe County Community Hospital will begin renting 14,000 square feet of the former Rose's store Nov. 1, but it will take longer for the hospital to get the building ready for use.

The store closed earlier this year, along with the Rose's store in Blacksburg and one in Pulaski which closed earlier.

The Wytheville store is located close to the hospital, and will be used to house 1-year-old Circle Home Care, the hospital's home health agency. It will also house some nonclinical hospital departments and be used to store supplies and equipment.

By relocating some departments to the former store building, the hospital can use its own space more efficiently and save $3.5 million in hospital renovation costs.

``With the growth we've experienced during our first year, the entire space is looking forward to moving into a new, more spacious facility,'' said Martie Byrum, Circle Home Care director. ``This move will enhance our operational capabilities by allowing us to better serve our home health care patients. The new location will be more accessible to the community.''

New medical policy

WYTHEVILLE - A new medical services and sick call policy became effective this month at the Wythe County jail, requiring prisoners to pay a small part of the medical costs.

Physical and dental screenings remain free, as well as follow-up visits requested by the medical staff after screenings, medical emergencies as determined by the medical staff, and mental health screening.

But prisoners are now required to make co-payments of $10 for sick call, dental visit and doctor visit costs and $3 for prescription handling fees.

``Medical care will never be refused to any inmate,'' Sheriff Wayne Pike said. ``Those inmates who do not have any money on their account will be seen by medical staff on request and a negative balance will be placed on their inmate account. Monies may be collected at future dates from inmates, should monies be available.''

Memo: ***CORRECTION***