ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, October 18, 1996               TAG: 9610180072
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-2  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MEGAN SCHNABEL

HOSPITAL UPGRADE OK'D IN MARTINSVILLE

A proposed $86 million upgrade of Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County has been given the go-ahead by the state health commissioner, the hospital said Thursday.

Commissioner Randolph Gordon approved a certificate of public need for the project, which will reduce the number of beds from 264 to 150 and change the hospital's focus to outpatient services.

Gordon called the proposal an effective approach to upgrading the hospital's facilities and less costly than replacing the existing hospital. He also said the hospital can implement the project without substantially raising charges.

The project will create a new main lobby, new dining facilities and improved parking and roads. No date has been set for work to begin, hospital spokeswoman Cindy Lewis said. The project should take three years to complete.

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