Broadlands Medical Facility

This experience is not related to LHC, but it is the only emergency hospital visit I have had to make. I broke my ankle in Alexandria and had to go to the hospital there. I was in the waiting room for about 2-hours before I was seen by a Doctor. Although I was in a lot of pain, it was not a life-threatening injury and there were other people there who had to be seen before me. I was happy when I was finally taken into the back room and seen by the Doctor. I was out in the hallway for a bit as I waited for my leg to be x-rayed. It turns out that I had 2-spiral fractures. After the diagnosis and some painkillers, I was and told that my ankle was too swollen to operate and that I would have to make an appointment with an orthopedist and I was not to have surgery that day. I left the hospital in pain with a wrapped ankle and some crutches, not knowing who or when my ankle was going to be fixed. 5-days later I had surgery. I only tell this story because I don’t know what is normal for hospitals and waiting room times, I just know what happened to me in another county. Depending on the injury I think it is normal to wait a certain amount of time.

 

Hmmm. Could you post your good experiences as well?

 

We have been to LHC emergency room 3 times. The shortest wait was 2.5 hours, the longest about 4.5 hours (with an infant!).

If not now, When?

 

I had a recent hand operation that was very successful. I did not however have to go to the E.R. it was a scheduled operation with a doctor I recommend highly. I am refering to my emergency situations that yes, I feel are important enough to share.

 

What I don't understand is this. Why do you think that having a new hospital nearby will reduce wait times in emergency rooms? I used to live near Inova Fairfax hospital. I took my father, who was suffering from very, very bad effects from chemo and was having trouble breathing to their emergency room. The front desk informed me that it didn't seem like an emergency and had us wait. After an hour or so, I went to the front desk again. Nothing happened, and they saw him after about 2.5 hours. As he was in stage 4 (very advanced stage) of cancer and looked deathly, it still didn't seem to do any good in emergency situations. We had other hospitals nearby we could've gone to, but we went to Inova Fairfax instead, since it was closer to our home by a few miles. Having two hospitals nearby didn't help us. How do you think it'll help us now? I'm not convinced having BRMC nearby will "solve" all our medical problems. If you can convince and guarantee me of that, I'll sign on and do everything I can to support it. Until then, I'm opposed.

 

I don't believe this for one second!

I might believe it if you said you got in that quick on one occasion. Your inference is it happened multiple times. That place is way to busy and understaffed to get you in everytime within an hour. That's been my experience, as I have been there multiple times.

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This year my daughter has been sick quite a lot, and having taken HER to the ER there we never had to wait more than an hour (which is great in an ER)


M.



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It actually happened twice. What a coincidence, I just today printed out my EoPs for my flex reembursement so I even have the dates. On 4/11, a Sunday, we actually waited less than 20 minutes. Of course then we were in there for 4 hours, but the outside wait was 20 mintues. On 5/5 we waited a bit longer, probably close to an hour, maybe a few minutes more. Again, we were inside for a long time since my daughter had to have IVs and needed to get xrays and CTs done.

But just like you don't believe my short wait times, I don't believe 8-10 hours. Your perogative just as mine.

M.

This year my daughter has been sick quite a lot, and having taken HER to the ER there we never had to wait more than an hour (which is great in an ER)


M.



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I think it is very helpful to post real experiences about important issues. I have lived here in Ashburn for 13 years. Has anyone lived somewhere that bad things happened because of a hospital nearby with a psch ward? If everyone agree's their is a need for another hospital why not our back yard. A need is a need. I highly doubt property values will decrease. I am not basing that on concrete evidence maybe someone has some concrete evidence it will decrease?

 

For several years I lived a few blocks from Montgomery General Hospital which has 20% of beds devoted to psychiatric care. Never had one incident. In fact half of the surrounding community is not even aware there is a psych ward there.
Link to services they provide
http://www.montgomerygeneral.com/programs_services/other_health_services.asp?type=list&itemid=8
The hospital has been there for decades. There has been no adverse effect on development or home values. In fact the hospital has been a cornerstone of the community and a nice convenience for those who live nearby. I used to enjoy having my doctor, ER and labs all in the same place, all 5 minutes from my home.

 

If anyone can guarantee our home values won't go down, again, I'll sign up to support the hospitals. I don't know about anyone else, but my home is the single most important property we own. We don't know anything, apart from what both sides are feeding us. Also, I don't want to look out my backyard and see the hospital or see an ambulance racing down the street I live near (Glebe View). We have enough problems with speeding there as it is!!

 

Your home value went down?! Why? Ours has steadily increased every year.

 

Homer --

I'm just responding to the msg below:

"For several years I lived a few blocks from Montgomery General Hospital which has 20% of beds devoted to psychiatric care. Never had one incident. In fact half of the surrounding community is not even aware there is a psych ward there.
Link to services they provide
http://www.montgomerygeneral.com/programs_services/other_health_services.asp?type=list&itemid=8
The hospital has been there for decades. There has been no adverse effect on development or home values. In fact the hospital has been a cornerstone of the community and a nice convenience for those who live nearby. I used to enjoy having my doctor, ER and labs all in the same place, all 5 minutes from my home."

Our home value did go up, but I want to know that it'll stay that way as long as the economy allows it. I'm not convinced that'll be case if the hospital gets built, etc. Most pro-HCA supporters have posted that home values will not be affected and have sited house values of places that are near hospitas (i.e., Reston, Montgomery, etc.). However, I want to note that houses near Reston are condos, townhomes, etc., and houses near Montgomery have been there for years. I guess I'm just trying to say that I want to make sure my home doesn't get adversely affected, and unless anyone can reassure me of that, I'm not supporting the hospital. I live very close to the proposed site, and I just don't want to stare out of my back window and see the hospital. Office parks, I can live with. They go home on the weekends. Sorry for the confusion.

 

Got ya. I saw the agian and read it as home values won't go down again.

 

Home prices in Lansdowne don't seem to be affected by the presence of LHI there - and they are all new homes. Granted they aren't as close as it sounds like you will be, but still some are still close enough to be impacted by some of the issues raised here (sirens, helicopters, traffic, etc.)

Though I haven't done much research, prices near INOVA Fair Oaks don't seem to be impacted as far as I can tell.

 

I feel homes near Landsdowne have other amenties they offer, such as golf, etc., and same goes for homes near Fair Oaks. They have shopping centers and are closer to DC, etc. What do we have to offer in Broadlands to attract potential home buyers?

 

Broadlands Live! (I just HAD to )

 

What attracted you to buy in Broadlands? With the hospital here (or with a large office park instead), those features that attracted you will probably still exist.

One can always find a reason to discount an example (only condos and townhomes, all existing homes, golf nearby, etc.). You asked about home prices near a hospital - as far as I can tell from the examples cited they will not be impacted negatively. If you can find a counter example, I'd be happy to hear about it.

 

I was attracted by the "Natural Way to Live" campaign that Broadlands is known for. The Nature Center plans, etc. Also, I liked the planned community with wide roads, preserved trees, in a nice suburban neighborhood. I don't want to get into a home value going up/down near a hospital, etc. debate. I guess it just comes down to the fact that while I knew of an office park eventually planned for the site near my house, I did not know of a hospital. It just comes down to the fact that I do not want to live near a hospital that'll increase traffic, noise, etc. right by my house. If I lived a mile away, sure I'd have no problems. As it is, I don't, so I do have problems with it. I've been following the progress closely, and have formed my decisions/opinions. I feel everyone is entitled to them and needs to respect everyone else's opinions.

 

I respect that. I responded to your post that said:

Personally, I don't think property values will be impacted one way or another. While I'm not quite as close to the site as you, I do live north of Vestal's Gap and west of Chickacoan, so it is something I've looked into myself.

As is apparent from the sheer volume of discussion, there are many other reasons people oppose (or support) the proposed hospital.

 

Right. I totally agree and that is my point exactly. I don't have to agree with everyone to respect their opinions and wish that everyone would keep this in mind when discussing "hot" topics/debates.