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Two hospitals?
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Published: December 26, 2008
Updated: 12/26/2008 12:15 am
Two hospitals?
Christmas came early for Novant Tuesday when the state gave conditional approval to the health-care system's second application to put a $96-million hospital in Clemmons. It remains to be seen whether that surprise move -- which could put two competing hospitals within four miles of each other -- will be a present to the public.
Novant, which operates Forsyth Medical Center, and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center have been battling for more than a year for the right to put a hospital in the Clemmons/Advance area. Baptist won conditional approval in August to build a replacement for the Davie County Hospital, and many doubted that the state would approve two hospitals for the area. Much remains to be worked out. Baptist may still fight for a birthing center it wanted at the Davie hospital, and it may appeal the state's conditional approval to let Novant build in Clemmons. Novant is already appealing the conditional approval to let Baptist build a $100 million hospital in Advance.
Though many supporters of the Clemmons hospital have been rejoicing, some supporters of the Advance hospital are frustrated because of the Novant challenge to build their hospital and the denial of the birthing center. Novant has for months expressed its support of a two-hospital solution, Richard Craver reported in Wednesday's Journal, but Baptist, with its conditional approval in hand, hadn't warmed to the idea.
But there's a very real chance that the area could have two hospitals. Both hospitals have banked on the rapid growth in the area continuing. The big question is whether that growth will proceed at a pace to support both hospitals. Some wonder whether the N.C. Division of Health Service Regulation decided to let the free market answer that question. Supporters of the Advance hospital question why the long certificate-of-need process was necessary, and whether the state is really dedicated to reducing health-care spending.
In the best-case scenario, the two hospitals would compete for patients by providing the best and most economical level of care. They would create hundreds of jobs. Novant and Baptist would put aside their differences and pursue more projects together.
In the opposite scenario, the competition between the two major health-care systems, which has been seething for months, would get even more acrimonious. One of the hospitals would wither.
Analysts have suggested that the two hospitals might collaborate on one hospital for the area. But that's wishful thinking, given the history between these two health-care companies.
This fight between Novant and Baptist is far from over. And so are the questions about what might happen if the state gives final approval to both hospitals.
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