VDH recommends denial of medical facility in New Kent

With expansion continuing in the Bottoms Bridge area of New Kent County, efforts are under way to bring in a Level 2 Trauma Center to provide citizens and neighboring counties healthcare and additional services. But for the moment, the concept has hit a roadblock after a review by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).

An initial application to VDH for the construction of the facility returned unfavorable reviews during an early August meeting. The report indicates that Level 2 Trauma facilities are within a 30-minute drive, thus VDH recommended denial for a Certificate for Public Need (COPN) and construction of the facility.

Many local leaders have voiced displeasure on VDH’s recommendation. Leading the charge is Del. Christopher K. Peace, who released a statement on Aug. 4 on the recommendation rendered by VDH.

“I am disturbed by a recent report stating VDH staff’s initial review of a COPN application for imaging equipment to be located at a proposed Level 2 trauma center in New Kent recommends denial,” said Peace in a press release. “I am appalled that state bureaucrats may deny rural New Kent residents access to high quality health care and jobs.”

The proposed center would be free-standing, with its Level 2 designation allowing several possibilities to provide medical service that include a lot of capabilities many nearby hospitals can do, including surgery.

“Are the citizens of New Kent less worthy of a scanner than those in other larger localities?” continued Peace in his letter. “I feel the COPN system in Virginia may be past its sell by date.

“I will continue to stand firm in my support of this project on behalf of my constituents and friends in New Kent.”

County administrator Rodney Hathaway commented that the issue is ongoing and the recommendation is not a final decision.

“This is part of the process that the recommendation and our submission has to go through,” Hathaway commented. “I think VDH will see that this facility is a need for this county as well as surrounding localities.

“I believe that New Kent has the capability and the area to become the home the facility and manage it in a way to benefit the citizens of the county.”

Other supervisors are approaching the issue in other ways, with District 4 Ron Stiers speaking out and asking citizens to call the VDH and voice their support for the facility.

“It’s badly needed for this county,” Stiers said. “Our citizens deserve the type of health care services that this facility can provide.”

Public hearings are expected on the issue in the fall, but no tentative date has been set for the meeting. Stiers, along with Peace, is collecting letters to support the center in New Kent throughout the month of September.