DATE: Wednesday, February 26, 1997          TAG: 9702260437

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY TOM HOLDEN, staff writer 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   72 lines

CHORUS OF APPROVAL GREETS HOSPITAL MERGER

Community leaders associated with Virginia Beach General Hospital said Tuesday that its merger with Sentara Health System was an inevitable move in today's changing health care industry and a step forward in regionalism efforts.

Throughout Virginia Beach, the hospital has been a source of pride. Founded in a modest Oceanfront building in 1961, the community hospital grew into an advanced health care company that offered nearly as many services as its older and richer competitor, Norfolk General.

But in conversations Tuesday with many who had a personal stake in helping Virginia Beach General Hospital grow, the reaction to the merger of the region's two largest hospital systems was one of universal approval: that now is the time to move forward.

``It's a good plan,'' said W. Earl Willis, the former president of Virginia Beach General who for 25 years helped the community build the organization. He saw Monday's merger announcement between Sentara Health System and Tidewater Health Care, parent company of Virginia Beach General Hospital, as important to growing regionalism in South Hampton Roads.

``In this time, with the high cost of health care, it's difficult to see how we can have a group of hospitals competing and offering the same services,'' Willis said in a telephone interview from his winter home in Florida. ``I don't believe you can continue to operate all these facilities in the area with low occupancies and continue to provide first-class service.''

The benefits extend beyond health care, Willis said.

``I've been heavily involved with efforts to foster greater regional cooperation,'' he said. ``This is another step toward that. It'll be good for the total community.''

Somewhere down the road, Willis said, there had to be some affiliation.

``It's better than the alternative, when you have some private company coming in here. A community hospital system is better. Private companies have to serve three masters: patients, taxes and stockholders. Community hospitals need only worry about patients.''

Gabriele B. Jiannas, president of the Virginia Beach General Hospital Auxiliary, said she was pleased at the announcement.

``It was inevitable that it would happen eventually with the way health care was going,'' she said. ``Individual hospitals can't do it alone anymore. It's just a sign of the times.

``I think (Tidewater Health Care's Chief Executive Officer Douglas) Johnson made a wise decision negotiating this proposed merger rather than waiting for a time when they did not have points to negotiate on when some big organization like Columbia/HCA could have swallowed them,'' she said. ``We have not been bought. It's a merger between two local health care companies with roots in the community.''

Joyce A. Gray, who served as auxiliary president from 1982-84 and is now the auxiliary's legislative chairman, agreed with Jiannas. But she still feels a few pangs as she watches an era pass.

``There is a feeling of a sense of loss,'' she said. ``Virginia Beach General Hospital has been a community hospital that the entire community has been behind, especially the auxiliary.''

R. Bradshaw Pulley, who has served on the board of Tidewater Health Care since it was founded and who is a major fund-raiser for the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squads, applauded the move.

``There is always that feeling of nostalgia, but this is the time for change. It's inevitable, and certainly so in health care. Change is coming about from all directions and we felt it was the right direction to move to at this time.''

Pulley, who as an emeritus board member does not vote, said he would have cast an approving ballot if given the chance.

``The alliance with Sentara will be a real plus for the delivery of health services for the community. The time is right. It's the right direction.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

Virginia Beach General Hospital KEYWORDS: SENTARA HEATH SYSTEMS TIDEWATER HEALTH CARE MERGER

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu