BRMC Update & Press Release

BRMC Update:

I received the following email today explaining why HCA requested that their special exception request be removed from the November 30th BOS Public Hearing.

---------------
Dear Supporters,

If you have been lead to believe that HCA is abandoning Broadlands Regional Medical Center - NO NEED to WORRY! HCA has never been more committed to making Broadlands Regional Medical Center a reality. The Loudoun Easterner ran a story carefully written to make you worry. The story was factually inaccurate.

HCA requested that the Board of Supervisors Public Hearing for the special exception request be delayed from November 30th, during the holidays when it was originally scheduled, until after the first of the year. Mr. Tulloch, Vice Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, who coordinates the agenda's for the Board of Supervisors meetings, has not yet rescheduled the Public Hearing.

Another benefit of the delay is that additional time is available to research road improvement opportunities related to route 659, Belmont Ridge Road. The Planning Commission asked for this to be explored but there was inadequate information available at the time they met and several of the planning commissioners mentioned it in their closing remarks.

HCA has been working toward the day Broadlands Regional Medical Center opens its doors to Loudoun residents for more then two years. The past two years have proven that competition and health care choices improves service and quality - just look at the expansion of healthcare services and promises of more to come in Loudoun County since HCA announced the intention to build Broadlands Regional Medical Center.

Loudoun residents have a unique opportunity to benefit from the best healthcare that Hospital Corporation of America and Inova Loudoun Hospital have to offer. This is a win - win situation, proving that free enterprise works.

Broadlands Regional Medical Center has cleared all the big hurdles, including obtaining approval to build the hospital at the location, size, and cost specified in the certificate of public need. Dr. Stroube, Virginia's Commissioner of Health in March of 2004, gave this approval.

Now Hospital Corporation of America seeks a special exception from the Board of Supervisors. The underlying zoning of this property allows a hospital to be built on HCA's land. But a special exception is required, even Loudoun Hospital Center recently had to obtain a special exception when they wanted to make modifications to their structure. The Loudoun County Department of Planning issued a report that states that the Broadlands Regional Medical Center application meets all of the criteria necessary for a special exception.

HCA looks forward to being a good neighbor and a great community partner. Already HCA has committed 4 acres of the 58-acre site to be a natural park with special uses for the community such as a Farmers' Market, and gathering site. National Wild Life certification will be obtained as a wild life habitat as soon as the hospital is built.

HCA's reputation for social responsibility is demonstrated in Loudoun County. Broadlands Regional Medical Center is partnering with Shenandoah University to expand the pool of registered nurses available in Northern Virginia. $100,000 was given to hire another nursing instructor and outfit the clinical lab. Broadlands Regional Medical center has partnered with Loudoun County Fire and Rescue, local home owners' associations and Loudoun County Public Schools to prepare more than 200 11, 12 and 13 year olds to be SAFE SITTERs, using the Nationally acclaimed course by the same name. Good baby sitters are at a premium in the fastest growing county in the nation! Many other charitable organizations in Loudoun County have received funds from Broadlands Regional Medical Center. Most currently, Broadlands Regional Medical Center was the sponsor of the Interfaith Relief - Ida Lee Park, Freeze Your Gizzard 5K race, held last Saturday.

HCA's Reston Hospital's Charity Care dollars have steadily increased and surpassed Loudoun Hospital's charity care dollars. More than a year ago HCA created a national policy for charity care, which included the uninsured that was the most generous policy of any of the Northern Virginia hospitals.

Broadlands Regional Medical Center will be continuing HCA's history of providing high quality, patient-centered care as early as late 2007.

Megan Descutner
Director of Community and Government Relations
Broadlands Regional Medical Center

 

BRMC Press Release:

And, I also received the following press release from BRMC today.

---------------
Dear Supporters,

Pasted below is a copy of our latest Press Release that Broadlands Regional Medical Center sent to the newspapers. If you have any questions please call us at the office! 703-858-3465

Sincerely,

Megan Descutner
Director of Community and Government Relations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 22, 2004

For more information: Contact Megan Descutner at (703) 858-3465

BROADLANDS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER REQUESTS JANUARY PUBLIC HEARING

January Date Will Allow Hospital to Address Rte. 659 Funding Issues

ASHBURN, VIRGINIA -Broadlands Regional Medical Center has requested the Board of Supervisors public hearing on the hospital, originally scheduled for November 30th, be held after the first of the year to allow the hospital to address funding issues for Route 659 (Belmont Ridge Road) raised by the Planning Commission. "The Planning Commission raised issues about funding for Route 659 that is going to take time for the County staff and for us to research and address," stated Bryan K. Dearing, CEO of Broadlands Regional Medical Center. "Transportation is a significant issue in the County
and we believe taking the time to look at how Broadlands Regional Medical Center can play a role in providing additional transportation improvements above and beyond what is required of our application makes sense."

Broadlands Regional Medical Center is committed to being a good corporate citizen in Loudoun County. The delay in the public hearing is an extension of that commitment. In addition, Broadlands Regional Medical Center has partnered with the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Department, local homeowners associations and Loudoun County Public Schools to prepare more than 200 youth to be SAFE Sitters. Broadlands Regional Medical Center has also partnered with Shenandoah University by providing the University with a $100,000 gift to hire another nursing instructor and outfit the clinical lab. This gift will enable the University to graduate more nurses thus expanding the pool of nurses available in Northern Virginia. Broadlands Regional Medical Center has taken an active role in many other charitable and civic organizations in the County.

"I look forward to working with the Board of Supervisors on our Special Exception application," continued Dearing. "We will be a tremendous asset to the community both in our involvement with it and by adding needed healthcare services that work in concert with those provided at Inova Loudoun Hospital." HCA purchased the 57.7 acre site in Broadlands in mid 2003. The site is planned and zoned to permit office and other commercial uses, including medical offices and services. A Special Exception is needed for a hospital on the site but no approval is required to open medical office buildings associated with the hospital.

About Broadlands Regional Medical Center
The Broadlands Regional Medical Center will offer a full range of services, some of which are not offered in the county such as cardiac catheterization, lithotripsy and child and adolescent mental health services. For further information on the proposed hospital, please visit our Web site at www.BroadlandsRMC.com <http://www.BroadlandsRMC.com>.

 

Interesting to note that the publisher of Loudoun Easterner was on LHC's Board.

 

Cliff, she was for years, as well as on many other community service issues. I guess you could say it is every bit as interesting as former Supervisor Towe's husband being a staff bigwig at LHC before the move, who bitterly opposed the move and conducted a vendetta ever after, which had surely NOTHING to do with the preceding BoS demands to have BoS reps on the LHI board (kind of like wanting their own police department). I don't think it is nearly as interesting as the massive campaign contributions from HCA to York's warchest, in light of the fact that he is the only sitting supervisor to oppose the CPAM. The woman is dead, so why not let it alone.

So BRMC's temporary wthdrawal is to sweeten the pot. Fine. I plan to wait and see what the judge says on appeal before getting too exercised about the latest press releases.

Barbara Munsey, from South Riding.

 

Barbara,

I am curious. My impression was your main interest was to get a hospital into South Dulles. Hence the support of LHI, and the opposition to BRMC. Apparently that battle is won as the INOVA aquisition of LHI has promised to bring a hospital your way.

Why are you still fighting an issue unrelated to your neighborhood or to your health care service choices? As you stated earlier, you go to Fairfax County and not to Loudoun Hospital for care. I assume the availability of BRMC would not change that practice for you.

In fact, I'd think you would support BRMC if it gets road improvements. That sounds like something you would definately promote. Why kill that!?

Additionally, the taxes paid by BRMC will benefit the entire County. (does someone remember the amount, it was very substancial?) Certainly more revenue than a non-profit. Isn't this enough to at least bring you neutral on BRMC?

 

AFGM, please don't put words in my mouth. Where did I say I am actively fighting BRMC, and while you're correct about my support for proffered road improvements, where did I say BRMC making an addition to the road club would be all it took for me to think they were a good idea? Your preferred impression may indeed be that my "main interest" is getting a hospital on the 50 corridor, but my actually-stated main interest is proper planning for the entire county. I haven't chimed in much on either new hospital thread, because (as I stated in the post you replied to) I'm going to wait and see how the appeal shakes out. Why get exercised when there is nothing new to go on right now? (including the much hashed tax info?)

My main reason for posting in response to Cliff is that Beth Miller is no longer around to defend herself from insinuation. The same person is still in charge of the editorial position of the Easterner, and although he seems to heartily detest the actions of the (predominately Democratic) "smart" growth set, he nevertheless remains a Democrat.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Barbara Munsey, from South Riding.

 

Barbara-
Sorry, but I find it interesting whether the woman is dead or not.
I have also found it interesting that editorials in this paper that were pro-LHC/anti-BRMC did not point out that the editor was on LHC's Board. Sorry, I think this is relevant information and should be disclosed. Interesting that some newspaper's request that any letters to the editor disclose whether the writer has any affiliation with the topic they are writing about......yet the editor does not feel the need to do the same???? It doesn't necessarily make their opinion less valid, but puts it in the proper perspective.
I like the Loudoun Easterner, but if I feel something needs to be pointed out, I will. Just like you can feel free to point out things about a former Supervisor's husband and who gave contributions to who's campaigns.

 

Cliff, sorry to correct you but Beth Miller has never been the editor of the Easterner. She had business in graphics/printing, and bought the paper some years ago. She was the owner and publisher. The editor has been and remains John Geddie.

Barbara Munsey, from South Riding.

 

To say you aren't against BRMC really surprises me based on your past posts and quotes. Are you saying you changed your mind, before the INOVA aquisition happened and didn't inform us? At the least, I do accept your current stance that you have an open mind, awaiting further rulings.

I never said road improvements would be all it took for you to change your mind. But I do know development sponsored roads is something you have spoken up about. Something many of us support and encourage. If BRMC does offer additional funding for roads, I certainly would expect it would interest and DIRECTLY benefit folks from South Riding. My point is, based on your own disclosures, you would use the BRMC enhanced Belmont Ridge Road more than you would the BRMC.

You are right though, my impression is your "main interest" is getting things into South Dulles. The hospital issue is not the only issue that leads me to my conclusion.

And as I stated previously, nothing wrong with advocating for your neighborhood. Everyone should voice their opinion; actively support and lobby for things that effect them. That's how balanced decisions, for the good of all, are made.

 

May Ms. Miller rest in peace.

I do find it interesting that the owner of the Eastern Loudoun was also on the Board of LHI. Something I was not aware of until I read her obituary. The reaction seems to infer there is a belief serving on the Board is a bad thing. To the contrary, it is something to recognize and acknowledge. Seems like a great way to serve the community.

 

I don't think the concern is with serving on the board of LHI, but rather with publishing negative editorials about a competitor of LHI without disclosing the conflict of interest.

 

Barbara-
You have made the point previously that the Dulles District needs to come together as one District and stop the south vs north arguing. I completely agree with you on this.
Would you not agree that one of the most important things to making this happen would be improving the road network between north and south? Do you agree that Rte 659 is one of, if not the, major north-south road (pending the completion of Loudoun County Parkway which will be another major north-south connector.)
If a private entity was to offer a significant portion of this funding as part of a business application, shouldn't that be a major consideration in looking at the project?

 

Happy Thanksgiving Cliff, and everybody else. I am in total agreement on the roads, but remain in disagreement on the hospital. Given that the second COPN (currently awaiting a ruling on appeal) approved no new beds for our planning area, I still firmly feel that to take a hospital in such close proximity to the other one could pretty much stuff any chance for additional bed approvals in our immediate area for years to come.

I also firmly feel that the political push behind BRMC has that as one of its motives: place all services on the toll road, and suppress services elsewhere in the name of "smart" growth.

I am interested in the coming review and discussions of the CPAMs, because the few presentations I have yet attended seem to have thought out provision of the full road grid south of the Greenway and east of 15. While it is very nice of HCA to want to contribute to the improvement of 659, I don't know if that addresses the issue of location, nor do I know if it addresses the issues pertinent to those who oppose the hospital in your community.

I still see it as a roadblock to any other location(s) in Loudoun if we succumb to the "need" to grab this right away. The state didn't rule on immediate need, and if we see this as fulfilling an immediate need we may have killed addressing any future need.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving, and a wonderful launch into the holidays. My turkey is in the oven, so it's time to go clean (my favorite--ugh!)

Barbara Munsey, from South Riding.

 

And exactly how will killing HCA's hospital help Loudoun get new hospital beds. You are conviently ignoring the fact that the only reason HCA received approval was that it is a transfer of beds from one geographic location to another within the same planning area. These are beds already "owned" by HCA, so until HCA transfers the beds from the existing hospitals by closing them (and you are delusional if you think HCA will close the other hospitals until BRMC is finished) Loudoun will not receive ANY additional beds.

In fact the only chance Loudoun has to get additional beds approved (I mean beside the ones that are controlled by HCA) is for HCA to build BRMC. Follow my logic here.

1. Currently the planning area has a surplus of bed according to HSANV and the State.
2. HCA has 264 beds online in the two existing hospitals.
3. HCA proposal for combining the beds into BRMC results in a net loss of 100 beds for the planning area (264 existing vs. 164 in the new BRMC)
4. Net effect, a new hospital and 100 less beds that are used in the calculations in approving new COPN's.

Otherwise what we will have to do is wait until the HSANV and the State consider all 264 beds that HCA has as fully utilized. So according to my math the quickest way to get not one but possibly two new hospitals is to approve BRMC which will remove some of the "surplus" beds in the planning district, thus allowing Inova or someone else to request bed for a hospital in the south or west.

 

Barbara,

What "political push" are you referring to? Do you believe that HCA's application to
build BRMC is an attempt to deny services for South Riding and your neighbor
communities? Bottom line - nobody has applied for a COPN which covers your district.
There is an obvious reason for this. It is simply not now financially viable. If it was,
Inova or somebody would apply to build it. Instead Inova said they want to build an
urgent care facility.

BRMC is not part of the smart growth agenda. I believe that HCA made its decision
based on need, economics and accessibility. You are probably correct that BRMC
would likely make a Dulles South hospital difficult to approve for the forseeable
future. But why would that be such a problem? You would be able to go to Fair Oaks
or BRMC which would both be less than 10 miles away.

I see more clearly from this post that this really is about you, Snow and others in
Dulles South trying to deny the rest of us services if they conflict with your vision of
what should happen in the Dulles South corner of the county.

Skins fan

 

Skins Fan: I see little point in taking the bait to rehash a two year fight that has basically started cicling the drain (with the denial by the PC, and the temporary pulling of the untidy bundle of applications for yet another carrot-tweak), and is in a limbo state while awaiting the judge's ruling on the appeal, but here goes anyway:

Yes, I see smart growth politics in BRMC. It was only one of several high ticket items that were suddenly proposed during that time period, all of which had to do with focusing all growth (in the highest density tolerable) on the toll road corridor.

For both you and VWeisenburg, I'll state my take once again: since these are not new beds, (none of which will be approved until existing approvals are online and they said so in Richmond twice) moving them here in a flurry of chicken little immediacy will probably block any new bed approvals in our area for the foreseeable future. (I'm glad you see that possibility, Skins).

This is not good for anyone in the county, because of the interconnected service deficits. That's why "contributing to 659" is not a magic bullet that will make me show up in a BRMC Tshirt at the BoS.

If you wish to take the simplistic view that this is about South Riding stealing your hospital that is certainly your right. But do remember that the CPAM and merger talks reference location of expandable facilities strategically placed around the county.

Growth is occurring all over Loudoun. I doubt that those who happen to be pushing for BRMC from the smart growth side of the chapel will suddenly rise up and support a 21st century road network so the whole populace can easily get to the 659 exit on the Greenway to choose south for insurance and north for none. If they follow their usual pattern, that is.

Why do you think Ashburn is encouraged to be in a constant state of worry over services? The constant school boundary changes, the traffic, and all the other things that intrude on trying to live a decent life can blind people to the underlying causes of the trouble, and quite frankly most people are too busy just with their lives to do more than say "I don't care what you do, fix it!" And who can blame them?

Unfortunately, while everybody is busy running around addressing the symptoms, no one has time to treat the disease--services must be distributed throughout the county not only for the rest of the county (and that means more than just my subdivision), but for Ashburn as well: the center of the pie (pizza or pumpkin!) gets chewed up a lot worse during slicing than any other portion, doesn't it?

If you want to see it purely as Steve Snow stealing the stuff you need to give it to greedy South Riding, nobody can stop you from feeling that way. I think you do yourself a disservice by adopting the comfort of that easy out, though.



Barbara Munsey, from South Riding.

 

Barbara-
I still don't understand how you can possibly believe that the CPAM and Loudoun/Inova plan are somehow related to an idyllic utopian vision of a beautiful healthcare system for Loudoun county and not see it for what it is.....an attempt for a monopoly on the healthcare services in the county. Keep out HCA and Inova owns it all. Do you see this monopoly as serving the long term needs for Loudoun County?
Just when do you think the beautifully illustrated drawing of the Middleburg Medical Facility will be built? Maybe sometime in the 22nd century? Or is it more likely to be the 23rd? We all know that the flood of growth that the 50 acres per house zoning there will generate the need for their own medical facility.

They are duping people into believing that this CPAM/SCAM plan is ever going to happen in the next few decades. Call them up and ask them when any of this might get built. You may be surprised at the answer. I wasn't.
By the way, loved your letter in the Washington Post last Thursday.
Ouch! The truth hurts, don't it?

 

Yeah, much better to fall hook, line, and sinker for everything told to you by a company that's been convicted for fraud by numerous states and the federal government.

Yeah, I know that was the old management and you're so sure they've changed since then.

be careful before you break your rose-colored glass walls.

 

Barbara, apparently you are misunderstanding how the bed allocation works and did not get the point of my post, or you deliberately posting misleading information. Hospital beds are allocated by Planning Districts. Loudoun is in PD8. So is Fairfax county, so is Alexandria, so is Arlington County. The state will not even consider adding beds to the planning district (Loudoun or anywhere else) until all of the approved bed are online. HCA's beds are ALREADY online. Their existence in either geographic part of the planning district has no bearing on requests for beds to be added to the area. In fact their proposal REDUCES the number of beds in the PD by 100. If HCA does not move and consolidate at a new facility. Then the numbers needed for new beds in Loudoun become more difficult to attain since the HSANV will have 100 additional beds to use as part of the equations.

 

Barbara,

What is the timeline for INOVA to build their hospital in South Riding? Is it 1, 2, or 10 years?