New Kent Charles City Chronicle

News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 28, 2024

Letter to the Editor: Encourages acceptance for healthcare facility in New Kent

By Community Member | October 14, 2017 1:31 pm

I commend the efforts of New Kent County and VCU Health System to work together to improve accessibility and availability of health care services for residents in eastern Planning District 15. This project will significantly improve access to outpatient CT services, as well as bringing other high-quality services provided by VCU Health System to the area.

In addition to the benefits of having accessible imaging services for outpatients, a CT scanner in a necessity for a freestanding emergency department. The addition of imaging services at the facility will assist New Kent County’s first responders in getting fast, reliable diagnostic testing for emergency patients, improving treatment times and improving overall care to residents in the area. It would also increase the availability of ambulances that would not have to travel as far to transport patients in need of these services.

The county’s emergency response system is strained by the proximity to Interstate 64, which is a high incidence of traffic accidents. A freestanding emergency department located near the interstate would benefit travelers as well as residents and reduce strain on the county’s first responders. Recently, VDOT road closures have tremendously impacted first responder service to New Kent county residents living near Quinton who for several months rely on Hanover stations to send EMTs into their county. If there were a freestanding department, residents would have had other options in life and death situations.

Finally, the cooperation between the county and VCU Health System will benefit patients indirectly, because the county’s EMS department will work with the expert staff at the new emergency department to receive enhanced training and to implement improved patient care.

On behalf of my constituents in the 97th District, I hope that the state health department will recognize the significant benefits of VCU Health System’s proposed project and approve its application.

Delegate Chris Peace
97th District