Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 18, 1995 TAG: 9509130001
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
The Southwest Virginia Health Systems Agency has set a public hearing for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 11 in the Radford High School auditorium.
Radford Community Hospital originally sought state permission to replace its 52-year-old, 175-bed hospital in Radford with a modern $60 million, 98-bed facility two miles outside the city in Montgomery County.
A more recent proposal came from Pulaski Community Hospital and Montgomery Community Hospital to build a $26 million, 50-bed hospital within the Radford city limits.
The Pulaski and Montgomery hospitals belong to Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp., the largest private hospital chain in the nation, while Radford is part of the nonprofit Carilion Health System.
A representative of Radford Community Hospital will outline its proposal at the start of the hearing, because Radford's application was first. A speaker for the Pulaski-Montgomery proposal will follow.
Then speakers from the public will be heard, based on the order in which they sign up to speak. Names will be taken at the auditorium door.
Richard Roark, executive director of the Southwest Virginia HSA, and Vivian Sutphin, its board president, will be on hand to hear the comments, which will be recorded for study by the full board. Sutphin will be the hearing officer.
The HSA board could recommend one of the proposals, neither proposal, or both - although there is no likelihood of the latter because there already are more hospital beds in the New River Valley than are being used. The main reason for the surplus of beds is an increase in outpatient treatment in recent years, resulting in fewer hospital admissions.
This is taken into account in both proposals. Radford Community would build a smaller hospital than its existing one. Pulaski and Montgomery would reduce the number of beds at their existing hospitals to come up with their proposed 50-bed facility.
The HSA recommendation will go to the state health director, and at least one more hearing would be held in Richmond.
by CNB