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The region's two hospital companies are scuffling over a plan to build a new cancer center beside Mary Washington Hospital Date published: 9/10/2009
BY JIM HALL HCA has been frustrated in its plan to add a cancer service at its new Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center. Now, it doesn't want MediCorp Health System to have a new cancer service, either. HCA this week sent an e-mail to supporters, encouraging them to attend a public hearing tomorrow to oppose MediCorp's plans. "Please come to the September 11 public hearing and let the regulators know that SRMC needs comprehensive cancer services before MediCorp is authorized for an additional therapy unit," the e-mail said. The Virginia Department of Health is sponsoring the hearing on a proposal by MediCorp to build a cancer center beside Mary Washington Hospital. The $11 million center would offer advanced radiation treatment for cancer patients. HCA would like to provide similar services when it opens its new Spotsylvania hospital next year. But the state health commissioner ruled that the company missed a crucial deadline when it tried to file an application this spring. And unless a court overturns the commissioner's decision, the missed deadline could prove costly. As the company told supporters in its e-mail: "If MediCorp is approved now, it may be many years before SRMC will be able to offer comprehensive cancer services." So the company is trying to regain lost ground. It has gone to court in Richmond to appeal the state's decision that its application was late. The case will be heard in Richmond Circuit Court Sept. 21. And HCA is attacking MediCorp's plan as an extension of its "monopoly." "Our main goal is to get cancer services at Spotsylvania," said Susan Salyer, spokeswoman for the hospital. "Without radiation therapy at Spotsylvania, the cancer patients in the area won't have the benefit of having the choice and the access." MediCorp officials defend their plan as providing a needed service. "What we're doing is increasing our scope of services to a community that needs it," said Walt Kiwall, MediCorp's executive vice president and chief operating officer. "It's not an expansion of a monopoly. It's an obligation to the community." Currently, area cancer patients have one option for radiation therapy: MediCorp's Cancer Center of Virginia on State Route 3 in Spotsylvania. MediCorp and HCA each requested a permit for a new cancer service last year. But Dr. Karen Remley, the health commissioner, denied both. Remley ruled in January that the Fredericksburg area did not need two more linear accelerators, the machines used to deliver radiation to cancerous tumors. State guidelines require that a linear accelerator do a minimum of 8,000 treatments a year before another will be approved. The two accelerators at the Cancer Center did about 7,500 treatments each in 2008. MediCorp waited three months after the commissioner's decision and filed a second application for the same service. This time, it suggested that the center be located in a new building beside Mary Washington Hospital. HCA tried to file a competing application but missed the deadline, according to the state. The company disagrees, saying that its application was timely. And last week it told its supporters, "MediCorp should not enjoy a windfall from the regulator's error." Jim Hall: 540/374-5433
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 9/10/2009
If MWH wants to build a cancer center, let them. If HCA wants to build on than let them also. The state health commisioner's office should concern themselves with the standards of care offered at both locations and as long as they are up to required standards, there should be no issue. I could see ho missing a deadline on an application might delay a project, but why should it shut it down entirely?
VA is the "great" government that is regulating healthcare in VA not the federal government. Why do you think you need the VA Dept of Health permission to open a facility?
is healthy and will make both hospitals step up their game. I have lived in other areas where there was more than 1 hospital to choose from and the care is far superior than that at MWH. My son has been a patient at MWH twice in his young life and suffered unnecessarily due to their ineptitude. Until that happens to your child, don't criticize me for not respecting that pitiful excuse for a hospital.
I hope you and your insurance company enjoy HCA. I challenge you to research them online a bit. They're not the best example of healthcare either. They have had their share of troubles as well, and ANY organization comes down to the hands on treatment you get. Do you not think some of MediCorps employees will end up at HCA? Do you not think in time, that HCA employees will come to MediCorp? There are good and bad all around and HCA will have some of both like other facilities.
why should patient's be denied treatment because THEY missed the date? HCA is sounding exactly like the FOR PROFIT organization they are. There is no reason not to approve MediCorps facility if it benefits the community. Mr. Tobin and/or HCA screwed up so let him/them suffer, not the cancer patients in the area!
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