Broadlands Hospital

We were told that there were going to be professional office buildings on Broadlands Blvd. Only two years later, Broadlands is allowing helicopter, ambulance and psychiatric traffic. Our neighborhood just went from quiet and tranquil to urban hell.

Is there anything that residents can do to fight this?

Mark/Lisa

 

From today's Washington Post: (HCA voted down in second round of reviews)

Loudoun Hospital Wins Vote on Expansion


An advisory board that examines health care needs in Northern Virginia has voted in favor of allowing nonprofit Loudoun Hospital Center to expand, while recommending that a for-profit competitor not be allowed to build in the rapidly growing county.

The board of directors of the Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia voted 18 to 0, with one abstention, on Monday night to recommend giving Loudoun Healthcare Inc. permission to expand its hospital by 32 beds. That would take the facility beyond the 103 beds it has now as well as the 42 scheduled to be available by April.

The vote against rival HCA Inc., a Nashville-based health care group that wants to build a 180-bed hospital in the Broadlands community, two miles from Loudoun Hospital Center, was 13 to 4, with two abstentions.

The state health commissioner will make the final determination.

 

Story in today's Loudoun Times Mirror:

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=5719022&BRD=1897&PAG=461&dept_id=123365&rfi=6

 

Another story from Thursday's Washington Post, indicating substantial blow to Broadlands Hospital:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32841-2002Oct16.html

 

Three strikes against Broadlands Hospital (and one againt LHCI).

From Today's Washington Post:

"VIRGINIA

Report Opposes Loudoun Hospital Plans


A panel that advises the state health commissioner recommended yesterday that he deny a bid by Loudoun Healthcare Inc. to expand Loudoun County's only major medical facility, as well as a plan by Nashville-based HCA Inc. to build a 180-bed hospital in the county's eastern end.

The recommendations, in a report by the state health department's Division of Certificate of Public Need, called both applications "premature," citing 288 hospital beds that have been authorized for the area's planning district but have yet to be put in place.

The recommendations follow a vote last week by another panel, the Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia, which advised Virginia Health Commissioner Robert B. Stroube to allow the current hospital's proposed 32-bed expansion but reject HCA's proposal to build a 180-bed facility in the Broadlands community five miles away.

HCA, the nation's largest for-profit hospital chain, has proposed shuttering two other hospitals it owns in Northern Virginia and combining their staffs and services at the Loudoun site.

Stroube has until Feb. 16 to decide the issue."

 

I’m fifteen years old, and I have read through all of the messages in this forum and I have decided to vote against the hospital. Why do we need another hospital when we have one 5 miles away? I know that when my mom and dad bought here about 5 years ago, they had no idea that Broadlands would allow a hospital to be built here! If you go to www.broadlands.org, it says that Broadlands is “a place where the noises stop and sounds begin”. Don’t you think that a hospital built right here in this neighborhood would cause “noise”? I mean, c’mon...the plan for the Broadlands Regional Medical Center at www.broadlandsrmc.com says that there will be a helipad. And hospitals have ambulances, with sirens... so it will be noisy. Plus, if you look at the plan for the Broadlands RMC, it also shows “parking structures”. Aren’t those parking garages? I think that parking garages are ugly looking! The plan shows that there will be trees surrounding the hospital, but I think that it will take a long time for those trees to grow high enough so the “parking structures” will not be visable from Broadlands Boulevard. So, from the information I found on the two websites, I think that the hospital in Broadlands will not only change the neighborhood (into a noisy place) but it will not be a very attractive building, changing the natural, peaceful look of the neighborhood.

Didn’t all of the residents here buy in Broadlands because it was a beautiful area? Well, from the look of the plan at Broadlandsrmc.com, the hospital will require a huge piece of property, and many trees will be cut down. How would you like it if you lived on Middle Ridge and you looked out your bedroom window, and you saw a HOSPITAL? gee, what a beautiful view!
Hospitals are open 24-7. You will see flashing lights and ambulances rushing on Broadlands Boulevard all night! I know that the sirens will not be the loud ones at night, but it will still be noisy. A hospital will change Broadlands. If the Broadlands RMC is built, when I sit out on my family’s deck on a nice day, the sound of the neighborhood will just be so different. Also, a lot more people will be driving around our neighborhood at all hours of the day. On the Broadlands RMC webside, it shows that there will be 2 entrances.
My family went out to Macaroni Grill near the mall last night and we heard an ambulance leaving the Red Robin. The sound of the ambulance was really loud and the noise was really frightening. I think that little children living in this community would not like the sound of the helicopters and the ambulances if the hospital is built here.

Thanks for listening to my opinion. : )
I think a forum is a good way for communities to let their opinions be heard. <img src=icon_smile_shy.gif border=0 align=middle>

 

While there have been some well expressed and valid points made about the prospects of a large hospital complex being located in Broadlands, hardly anyone has made mention of the criminal activities of the parent company, HCA, that is pushing through this plan.

HCA (formerly Columbia/HCA) is a mammoth for-profit health care consortium that is best known for its aggressive, hostile takeovers of smaller non-profit hospitals. It has a history of cutting out the less-profitable services of these community-based hospitals, and maximizing its profits by monopolizing health care and charging the highest permissible rates for its services.

HCA has also gained notoriety for the largest case of criminal fraud in the history of the United States -- with fines totalling over EIGHT HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS for Medicare and Medicaid overcharges, false reporting of services and other deceptions, with additional charges currently under investigation by the federal government.

Even if we feel that Broadlands and Ashburn needs a hospital in closer proximity than LHC, we need to take a closer look at HCA and decide if this is a company that will be working in the best interests of our community. It is not unreasonable to consider their past history of aggressive takeovers, profit-based (as opposed to community-based) incentives, and massive fraud when making our decision.




Edited by - asher on 11/12/2002 17:09:53

Edited by - asher on 11/12/2002 19:20:17

 

Why is the HOA pushing the hosipital on homeowners when HCA has lost it's case to all of the independent review boards? One could make a case that the HOA does not hold the best interest of it's residents since it is still under developer control. There is only one reason why the HOA would support a SPECIAL EXEMPTION of the Zoning for the hospital and that is money.

This mental hospital does not belong in a residential area where children play. Especially now that hospitals in our area are under threat of terrorism by weapons of mass destruction.

 

PUSHING. That is the key word here.

I wish they would cut it out and go west where they are
truly needed, and preferrably NOT inside someone elses
nice neighborhood.

 

The reason why the Hospital, if it is to be built, cannot be built in Western Loudoun County is very simple. Western Loudoun County does not have the required public water and sewer. That effectively prevents the construction of any hospital in Western Loudoun County.

I would imagine that the restrictions on public water systems were imposed to discourage the development of residential communities.

Noise and traffic -

In short, traffic studies conducted show an actual decrease in traffic when it is compared to traffic associated with an office complex. In reality, the vast majority of traffic occurs in the same time frame of 9am - 5pm due to the office hours of the medical office building and out patient surgery.

Ambulance traffic - studies show that 90% of incoming emergency room traffic is by personally owned vehicles, not ambulances. That said, should this application be approved, we should continue to push very hard to have an emergency entrance established off Belmont Ridge Road. I won't kid you, it's going to be an uphill battle, but one that's worth fighting for.

Statistics indicate that we can expect between one and two helicopter transports per week. BRMC will NOT be a trauma center and as such will not be receiving trauma patients. The only helicopter transports we might expect will be for those patients who must be transported from the BRMC to a trauma center. AND it has been explained by those that make these runs that helicopter pilots generally use Visual Flight Path landmarks to fly, namely the Potomac or the Greenway or other such visually identifiable landmarks.

Hazardous wastes -

Despite you you may have heard, there will be no incinerator at the BRMC.

Mental Health Issues -

The typical patient received at this facility is more than likely to be a member of our greater community of Ashburn and Loudoun County who is suffering from a mood related disorder such as depression or anxiety related issues. And, so I'm told, the majority of the program is geared towards the treatment of adolescent mental health issues.

From what I can see - while no one can make promises - the psychiatric aspect of the hospital will not present any danger to this community. If I thought for one moment that it did, I'd be the first to lay down in front of the bulldozers.

The footprint of the hospital -

Please spend a few moments and compare the footprint of this hospital with that of the 1,000,000 square feet of planned office complex development for this site. I think you will find that it preserves considerably greater green space and the preservation of mature trees along Broadlands Blvd than does the office complex.

Decrease of property values -

There has been nothing that I have read or seen which indicates the the property values in Broadlands will be detrimentally effected by the addition of a hospital.

Does anyone really think that Terrabrook - who is primarily a residential developer - would enter into a situation that could have a detrimental effect on the property values of the more than a thousand residential units which are as yet unbuilt in Broadlands? I for one don't think so.

And I am personally aware of a number of ventures that have been presented to Terrabrook that were turned down because it wasn't felt to be in the best interests of the community.

One can argue all day whether the designated commercial sections of this community should have ever been made adjacent to residential sections. But, that said... they always have been from day one. Anyone who did not realize that Broadlands Blvd has always been designated as a major commercial thoroughfare just didn't do their homework.

Are they potential negative impact issues associated with this project? Of course there are. There are potential negative impact issues associated with any commercial venture.

Do we need another hospital in Loudoun County -

Well, if you look at the numbers, it sure seems to indicate that we do. It's based on an average number of hospital beds per 1000 residents. We are far below the State average in this region.

Competition?

I don't know much about this one. In general, I have always thought competition in business to be healthy. But maybe there was something unique about the health care business so I posed this question to HCA.

I was told that the magic formula has to do with hospital capacity. If capacity falls below a certain number that it can negatively impact on that hospital. But it appears that the numbers support a relocation of the beds that HCA proposes and an approval of the additional beds that LHC is proposing. By the way, HCA does not oppose the application of LHC for these new beds.


Should this hospital be approved by the State, it's been my experience we need to work with HCA to ensure that any potential negative impact issues are minimized and that the BRMC becomes a strong partner with the Broadlands community.

Ask them to describe some of the community out reach programs they are involved with in other regions. I think you might be impressed with their commitment to the communities in which they reside.

So... I'm not asking you to support this hospital. I think everyone should make up their minds based on fact, not rhetoric or hearsay. But that all said, you don't need any reason to oppose it if that is your decision. That certainly is your right.

But I think the vast majority of people want to make up their minds based on the truth. Please, everybody don't jump on me, I'm not saying the whole truth is being espoused by HCA. Of course they are going to spin it towards their best interests. Just remember that Loudoun Hospital Center is doing the same thing.

The truth will set you free!!! Or at the very least assist you in making an informed decision as to your stance on this issue.

Thanks for your ear,
Jim Caldwell

 

Jim,

Very well said! I've been advocating, for sometime, that there is a very good chance the hospital will be built here in Ashburn. It is best to embrace it and effect how it will be a part of the community. We should concentrate on road access, tree preservation, landscaping, lighting, community service programs, etc. Then truly, a neighborly and long term relationship can be established. Thank you for your comments and positive addition to this discussion.

 

The truth is that the Hospital needs a special exemption to the zoning. There is no way to do due diligence on future use if there has to be a special exemption!

That said, if the Hospital is approved we need to make sure that we can minimize the damage by getting the access on Belmont Ridge. But one has to wonder what back room deals are going on if Richmond approves a Hospital that has already lost two battle with the local hospital authorities.

Also, I have no connection with any hospital. I just live here. I wonder about the bias of some posters.

 

Hi Homer-
A minor correction: The Zoning Ordinance requires a "special exception" for a hospital. If you read the Zoning Ordinance for this property, it specifially lists hospitals as an allowed use, but must go through the special exception process. There are many other uses that would also be allowed through this process. I worry about the giant dry cleaning plant that the Board of Supervisors just denied in the Cascades area coming over here.

As far as final approval, I have been amazed at how political the approval process for hospitals is in Virginia. It seems the healthcare of Virginia residents is the least concern. The current expansion of Reston hospital was also not approved by the HSA.

 

I'd take the hospital over the the dry cleaning plant for sure! I don't trust that the HOA under developer control nor the Loudoun BOS has our best interests at heart.

 

I am strongly in favor of the hospital, and encourage everyone to keep an open mind and constructive approach to this issue. I recently moved to Broadlands from a very established neighborhood in Arlington that, in many ways, is 'anchored' by Arlington Hospital. That facility sits smack in the middle of a very residential and high-property value neighborhood. While there are always disputes between the community and the hospital (particularly over recent construction), I never had an issue with ambulance noise or patients. In fact, emergency vehicles typically run 'silent' at night (only lights, no siren) unless traffic demands otherwise. In this respect, the Broadlands hospital site is encouraging because vehicles will not travel directly through residential streets. (Anyone who believes that Broadlands Blvd. is going to remain "residential" is kidding themselves. Just look at the master development plan -- one side is completely dedicated to commercial use!) I think that rather than taking a total "NIMBY" approach to the hospital, the HOA should work constructively on issues of access, noise and physical appearance.

Concerning the psychiatric aspects of the hospital, I am troubled by what I view as an overreaction by many posters and obvious misunderstanding about mental health services. Persons dealing with anxiety or depression are not dangerous "mental patients" who might threaten the community. They are people that we all live near, work with, and meet on a daily basis without thinking twice about it.

Are there others who favor the hospital but are not speaking up?

 

Hi jtarnow-
Yes, there are a lot of Broadlands residents that support the hospital.

 

Does anybody remember the date by which the State Health Commissioner has to deny the application? My understanding was that unless the Commissioner denies the application, it is automatically approved. There is a deadline by which that has to occur. I seem to remember that it was in February. Anybody know?

 

The Commissioner will publish his decision by March 1. He will probably reach his decision by Feb. 15, allowing a few weeks to write the reports.
Nothing is automatic. The Commissioner's decision will determine if the hospital will be allowed.

 

I heard that HCA did not recieve the approval to build in The Broadlands. If true, then this is great news.