Broadlands Hospital Approved!

Well, not really. Just the forums have been kinda boring lately!

 

You weren't suppose to tell anyone!

 

HAHA - That's a good one!

 

Dr. Stroube should be giving his decision about the Broadlands Hospital by the end of this week. If approved, the Special Exception application will need to be reviewed and approved by the Loudoun County Zoning Board and then the Board of Supervisors.
Cliff

 

And, just in from the HCA folks:

"Thought you might like to know that the Virginia Health Commissioner approved the Certificate of Public Need request for the Broadlands Regional Medical Center, along with a small application by Inova Fair Oaks. The application by Loudoun Hospital Center for the Cornwall campus was denied."

"As you would expect, we will be gearing up on the land use applications in the coming weeks and will look to meet with the group again soon. I'll be in touch shortly about dates and times."

 

Really? There's nothing on the net about it. After this: http://loudounonline.com/documents/RLS_AppealDecision.doc

Stroube's got some 'splaining to do about how he can do a complete 180 without it looking like HCA paid him off.

 

Here are Dr. Stroube's reasons for approving BRMC (quoted from his approval letter):

I have received, reviewed and adopted the enclosed findings, conclusions and recommendation of Douglas R. Harris, J.D., the adjudication officer who convened the informal fact-finding conference (IFC) held to review this application. Based on my review of this proposed project and on the recommendation made by Mr. Harris, I am approving, with certain conditions, the application of Northern Virginia Community Hospital to construct Broadlands Regional Medical Center.

The reasons for my decisions include the following:

(i) Construction of BRMC in Loudoun County would address explosive population growth in western PD 8, which has continued to in the year since COPN Request No. VA-6729 (Broadlands I) was reviewed and will likely continue;

(ii) The present proposed project (Broadlands II) has been modified in response to concerns over scope and cost, would reduce the surplus of acute care beds in Planning District (PD) 8, and is substantially consistent with the State Medical Facilities Plan (SMFP);

(iii) NVCH has demonstrated that it and Dominion Hospital need to be replaced, that their physical plants display an obsolescence that cannot reasonably be addressed through on-site renovation or replacement, and that the proposal to relocate these facilities to Loudoun County is reasonable in scope, location and cost;

(iv) No less costly or more effective alternatives to the proposed project exist, the project is feasible and NVCH possesses sufficient resources to implement the project successfully;

(v) In the year since Broadlands I, Loudoun Hospital Center (LHC) has continued to improve its financial circumstances and should be able to continue taking opportunities to confront competition, and mitigate against erosion of its patient volumes in the unlikely event that population growth is not sufficient to result in two robust, well-utilized hospitals located within Loudoun County;

(vi) Arlington County will continue to enjoy access to comparable health care services through an invigorated Virginia Hospital Center (currently undergoing an on-site replacement), other nearby hospitals, and a planned free-standing, 24-hour emergency department on the campus of NVCH;

(vii) Construction of BRMC would effectively result in the retirement of two obsolete hospitals – NVCH and Dominion Hospital – and their consolidation, reduction in size, and reserves-funded replacement with a state-of-the-art hospital featuring the latest capabilities in providing health care, meeting surges in demand, protecting public health, and providing a therapeutic environment conducive to child and adolescent psychiatric services, all of which will be reasonably accessible to residents of PD 8; and

(viii) HCA, Inc., the ultimate corporate owner of NVCH, recently adopted a generous indigent care policy that features full financial discounts on care provided uninsured persons living at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, and graduated benefits for families living at or below 400 percent of that level. Such a policy, if implemented faithfully, stands to benefit PD 8 in its entirety, especially as suburbanizing areas age and change demographically.

I enclose COPN Number VA-03793 with this letter to signify approval of the project. This certificate is valid from today’s date to March 9, 2005. In the event that an extension is needed, the applicant should file two copies of an application for extension with this Department and one copy with the regional health planning agency no later than 30 days before the expiration of the certificate.

 

Interesting. This is a total flip-flop from the refusal a year ago. It's not up on the http://www.vdh.state.va.us/ site yet though.

 

Wow, this is a sad shame. Broadlands and HCA...
Good thing we are moving in two years.
Now I know I will be happy to leave.
What a chaotic mess this area will be.

 

This ruling is great news for Loudoun County. Now on to the next step. Let's make sure the same positive effort is applied to the Board rezoning application. The same logical arguments will win the day, and we will finally have choices in Loudoun County for health care. Everyone needs to stay vigilant and our community will be better because of it. Congratulations to all that paticipating in the effort.

 

Here's the story today on the Loudoun Times website:

http://www.timescommunity.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=11109759&BRD=2553&PAG=461&dept_id=506035&rfi=6

 

As the minority of HCA proponents starts to rejoice, keep in mind that most of the families of the Broadlands did not want this hospital based on the HOA's own survey.

 

"most"? Are you referring to the "statistically" tied survey.

 

Based on the returns, "Most" of the families probably did not participate in the survey.

 

The same people who sang the praises of the survey are now taking pot shots at it?

 

I think this is going to be a LONG and DRAWN out fight that will last longer than we all probably want regardless of our view on the issue. I am disappointed in the drastic change of view Stroube had from his past decisions over the last 2 years...Interesting is all I can say and this does NOT mean that HCA is going to be allowed to lay a brick tomorrow, this process IS NOT OVER. HCA has not won the war and anyone who thinks HCA is allowed to build here in the near future is totally off base and misinformed. I appreciate the calls of support I have received and would ask that those of you who still have some fight left to give me a call to determine how you can help...AGAIN...(703) 723-6911 or email me: Dmfortier@erols.com. I look forward to continuing our determination in keeping HCA OUT of OUR NEIGHBORHOOD!!!!!

 

HCA will be here sooner or later. $$$ talks. I would rather it be sooner than later.

The 2.5 hours sitting in the ER at Loudoun last week did not put me in a great mood. Our 10 month son had a fever and what we thought was an ear infection (wasn't thank goodness).

I was not overly impressed with the triage nurse who took MANY patients that came in after us, some who were in no obvious distress and one who even had a sprained wrist!

On the other hand, the Dr. who our son saw was very competent and had an excellent beside manner. He even got our boy to giggle!

 

Chris-
Glad to see that after all the posts you made bashing the survey, how it was conducted, that the unscientific results would be meaningless, etc., you now embrace it. This hospital is about much more than just Broadlands. The pile of letters the State received supporting this application is several inches thick.

Dr. Stroube's reason for approving this hospital yet denying LHC"S beds for the Cornwall site does not appear to make much sense. It just reinforces to me that these decisions are not based on need, but political considerations.

 

Donna,

Are you going to be revamping the extemely bias, tabloid-esk anti-hospital website?

 

afgm (Ashburn Farm General Manager)?? I'm sorry you feel that the "ANTI HCA" website was so biased. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that is was established by AND for our neighbors who ARE AGAINST HCA. However the answer to your question is yes, it will be a little bit different but the same factual, accurate and timely information will be posted. Thank you so much for asking it's nice to know you were one of our visitors.