| Heart Center Application Approved!
The approval culminates an application process that began initially five years ago with work to prepare for the first application that was denied in 2000 due to strict cardiac guidelines. When Gov. Wise took office, his administration reviewed and then revised the cardiac standards of the state Health Plan, and upon approval of the revised standards, Gov. Wise acknowledged the need for two additional heart centers to serve West Virginians, one in the Parkersburg area, and the other in southern West Virginia. The joint application between BRMC, Charleston Area Medical Center and Princeton Community Hospital was submitted in January 2003, and faced opposition from the West Virginia Consumer Advocate office and an individual living in Charleston. The objections of both of these parties were withdrawn by late July, and the Health Care Authority moved swiftly to approve the application. Much credit goes to Deborah Hubbard, chairperson of the Cardiac Care Builders organization, which was formed to generate and demonstrate the public’s support of this facility. The CCB consists hundreds of heart patients, members of their families, local officials and community leaders. The efforts of Mrs. Hubbard and the CCB resulted in literally thousands of letters, emails and phone calls to state officials, and hundreds of supporters turning out for a meeting at which the HCA was to be present on July 21, and again when Governor Wise and Ms. Chambers were in Bluefield to present the approved CON. Construction,
equipping, staffing and training for the heart center are anticipated
to take 12 to 18 months to complete. Groundbreaking for the new addition
to the BRMC campus will occur in the near future.
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