Contributed Photo
Plans to build West Creek Medical Center continue to be evaluated by the different agencies involved in approving medical facilities like the one planned for Goochland, which could be a 97-bed, full-service building that looks much like the artistic rendering above.

Local hospital’s journey a long one
BY BRAD FRANKLIN

May 14, 2008

HCA, county officials continue to seek letters of support

The bid to build a hospital in West Creek continues its slow march towards a decision. And the outlook isn’t looking so bright.

According to Karen Nelson, executive director of marketing and communications for HCA Inc., the facility has received both good and bad news since the public hearing in March.

“Even though we received a recommendation of approval from the Central Atlantic Advisory Council, the staff report issued from the March 24 public hearing recommended denial,” Nelson said Monday. “The tone of the denial is very much in the vein of [that] it’s not a no, it’s a not yet.”

West Creek Medical Center is planned to be a 97-bed, full-service facility offering acute medical care off Va. Route 288. The 60 acres of land near Tuckahoe Creek Parkway was purchased by HCA in February 2006 for $10.5 million.

It’s planned to include four operating rooms and offer comprehensive diagnostic imaging, OB/NICU, in patient and out patient services, CT, MRI, nuclear imaging and medical oncology.

Since that hearing in March, which was held at Second Baptist Church off Gaskins Road in Henrico, Nelson said HCA has continued its pursuit of the hospital despite the Central Virginia Health Planning Agency’s board having voted to uphold the staff report.

“At this point, in all likelihood, it seems they’re saying it will be needed but isn’t needed yet,” she said. “And we’re doing what we can to make sure they know of the need and the community’s thinking.”

From a health-planning standpoint, the agency is looking at how many beds are in planning district 15, of which Goochland is a part.

HCA isn’t proposing adding 97 beds to the area but rather transferring those beds from another one of its facilities, Retreat Hospital in the city, where they aren’t used or staffed.

“Our feeling is that this is a responsible way to approach the situation,” Nelson said.

A staff report will be issued, likely in June, Nelson said, following last week’s hearing with the Internal Fact-Finding Committee. Though public comment wasn’t accepted, HCA was able to have representatives address the group, including Board of Supervisors Chairman William Quarles.

Nelson said interested residents can still get involved.

“We are so thankful for the response from the community that we’ve received,” Nelson said. “We just want to make sure that anyone that wants to have their opinion heard can do so.”

Any letters residents would like to write can be sent via mail to Nelson at 7300 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 101, Richmond, VA 23225 or by e-mail at . 

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