Unspinning the HCA Spin

It does look as if things are about to get heated again in what's been a long 6+ year Hospital War here in the County. Living in LoCo has another article out today found here, similiarly reporting HCA's plan to continue on with litigation against the County Board of Supervisors for denial on their building BRMC back in 2005.

In the article Mark Foust, HCA's corporate spokesperson, had this little quote:

“We're simply trying to accomplish something that a majority of Loudoun County residents want, and that's a hospital in Ashburn,” said Foust, who referenced studies that approximately half of all LoCo residents leave the county for medical care. "

Now, I know that Loudoun County is a growing community and all, but where in the world does he get that 'a majority of Loudoun County residents want a hospital in Ashburn'? The folks whose back yard HCA wants to plow thru, don't want it. It doesn't do the folks on the southern end of the County any good. Nor the folks out west. The folks along Rt. 7 (and the Ashburn area for that matter) already have a nearly brand new hospital right up the road (5-miles) in Landsdowne- they surely don't want nor need it either. The folks in Sterling and parts further east would still travel to Reston or Fair Oaks, given they both are closer than that proposed site would be, so count them out. Who's left? Where's the majority Mr. Foust?

In that same quote it is stated by HCA’s spokesman that- 'half the residents of Loco leave the County for medical care'. If that's the case Mr. Foust- then build the hospital somewhere outside this county! Does he not understand that probably half or even more Loudoun residents work outside of the County too. Since when was medical care held exclusively within geographic lines? If I work in DC, it’s easier for me to go to a doctor in DC. If BRMC is built- I'm not going to take an hour lunch break and two hours vacation time to trek back to Loudoun to a doctor just because he practices in the county that I live.

Finally, the article points to several pros and cons of having BRMC, that have been on the Broadlands Forum.

A. Some feel that it's the right time for a new hospital, but the location is wrong. Nobody denies the fact that a new hospital is needed in the Loudoun County. But where will it serve Loudoun residents the best is the debate. There are other parts of this county that are in desperate need of access to services and Broadlands does nothing to address this. The County even says the next hospital needs to be on Rt. 50 in the Countywide Health Care Facilities Plan, and the states' Health System Agency (the body that recommends approval of hospitals to the State) recommended a denail of Broadlands based on the location. Other parts of Loudoun are more deserving. (Rt. 50 anyone?)

B. Other residents want BRMC in the Ashburn community, citing that it will bring high-paying jobs and help boost area home sales. First- probably half of those jobs are going to be filled by folks already working in one of HCA's other nova healthcare facilities. Those positions that are still vacant will simply go to folks currently employed in the hospitals and medical offices already in Loudoun. What? Do you really believe there are 600 doctors and nurses living in Loudoun County right now that just happen to be unemployed at the moment? You're smarter than that, aren't you?

It would however boost area home sales, just not in Ashburn or Broadlands- as those residents that purchased their homes under the contract that office buildings, not a 24hr hospital, would be built in their backyard, would surely be placing their current homes up for sale and moving somewhere else in the County.

C. Naturally, most residents welcome the tax revenue that a private company such as HCA would bring to Loudoun. What tax revenue? You mean HCA is going to repay the County the tens of thousands of dollars back that the County has had to spend on this dumb lawsuit? They should be forced to pay that whether they build here or not. If we're talking about the supposed $3.5m their claiming they'll pay in local taxes; first: Ask anyone with HCA to show you how they got that figure? In HCA’s initial marketing materials for BRMC is was $2M in taxes, now overnight its jumped to $3.5? I haven’t seen any changes in their plan? Where’s the extra $1.5M coming from?

Second- ask them how many times HCA has sued a locality under the guise of their 'property assessments being too high'? They sued for a tax refund on a five-year period in Fairfax, it’s a sure bet they’ll do the same here.

Simply put, BRMC is still the WRONG PLACE at the WRONG TIME. The circumstances; newly elected slow-growth board of supervisors, slowing in the projected population figures, sluggish economy, and non-existent housing market make BRMC an even worse idea than it was half a decade ago. STOP BRMC!