New
medical complex to be developed on 182-acre site
by Robert McFarland, Jr.
DBJ Writer
On
October 29, 2003, officials with Delta Regional Medical
Center in Greenville announced the purchase of a 182-acre
site in the southern part of the city, east of Highway 1
South. They also unveiled plans for construction of the
first phase of a long-range program to develop the property
into a comprehensive, state-of-the-art medical campus.
Over
150 people, including hospital administration and staff,
Governor Ronnie Musgrove and other elected officials, as
well as community leaders were on hand at the announcement
ceremony, which took place under crystal clear Delta skies,
on the newly purchased property.
According to L. Ray Humphreys, Chief Executive Officer of
Delta Regional Medical Center, the purchase of the land
and the planned development of this south campus are the
first step toward realizing a vision for the future of health
care in the tri-state Delta region of Mississippi, Arkansas
and Louisiana. The planned project, which will ultimately
represent an approximate $100 million investment, is expected
to have a dramatic impact on the future of health care in
the Delta and provide a significant economic boost to the
region.
“This project is all positive,” says Humphreys.
“It not only promises to improve the quality and accessibility
of health care for our citizens, it also is expected to
bring more than 600 new jobs to the region and will give
a real boost to the Delta economy,” he adds.
Joining Humphreys in delivering the message about the positive
impact the Medical Center’s future expansion can have
on the Delta were: Governor Ronnie Musgrove; Carl McGee,
Chairman of Delta Regional Medical Center’s Board
of Trustees; Al Rankins, Sr., President of the Washington
County Board of Supervisors; Greenville Mayor Paul Artman,
Jr.: and Michael Mansour, M.D. Cardiologist.
Governor Musgrove called the expansion a major statement
for the Delta.
“Good health care brings a better quality of life,”
states Musgrove. “It also brings one of the best workforces
you can find.”
According to Humphreys, the Board of Trustees and the Washington
County Board of Supervisors deserve much of the credit that
this “field of dreams” could finally become
a reality.
“They should be commended for their foresight and
commitment to the people of this region, their willingness
to lend their support to the project and to share the hospital’s
vision to change the face of health care in the Delta,”
Humphreys notes.
The $8.1 million first phase of the plan consists of an
ambulatory surgery center and medical office building. The
long-range plan includes development of a comprehensive
medical complex including a new hospital to be located on
the south campus. The north campus is expected to continue
to be utilized by Delta Regional Medical Center to provide
essential health care services for the residents of the
community and the surrounding service area.
Despite it’s potential positive impact on the Delta
economy, the project is not without opposition. Community
Health Systems, a for-profit health system out of Brentwood,
Tennessee, and owner of Kings Daughters Hospital in Greenville,
has filed legal opposition to block the construction of
the planned ambulatory surgery center. According to officials
with KDH, Delta Regional has “dragged its feet”,
taking more than 18 months after the award of a Certificate
of Need for the facility before beginning construction.
Delta Regional officials respond that the multiple legal
challenges made by Community Health Systems, through the
auspices of KDH, have significantly contributed to the project
being delayed.
“KDH’s legal maneuverings may very well lead
to an additional 18 month delay before the health care and
economic impact of this multi-million dollar investment
can begin to be felt in the Delta area”, states Humphreys
Even with the delays the legal opposition poses, Delta Regional
Medical officials say they will proceed with their planning
and are confident that a project with so much potential
good for the people of the Delta will come fruition. DBJ
