The NoVA hospital turf battle: PWHS vs. Sentara

By Alan Moore | Tuesday, April 13th, 2010 | Catch-All

In a fight reminiscent to an episode of the Sopranos (minus the gratuitous violence) a battle over two new hospital proposals has taken center stage in Prince William County. Sentara Healthcare and Prince William Health System (PWHS) are both proposing to build a new state-of-the-art hospital in the Gainesville-Haymarket area.

While this might seem like a nonissue to a casual observer, there are some interesting dynamics at play that are firing up local residents.

With an increase in the population, especially amongst senior citizens, the need for such a medical facility is significant. As the traffic congestion continues to increase the need for a full service hospital is even more necessary. There is a PWHS medical facility in Haymarket, but it doesn’t have the capabilities of the Manassas campus, which is the closest full service hospital. Creating jobs in this economy is also a major factor.

To build a hospital in Virginia you must jump through a number of bureaucratic hoops. The process can take a year or longer. Last night both proposals were heard by the Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia in Gainesville. The Agency has the power to recommend that one, none, or both of the hospital proposals are approved. The thinking is that only one will end up being built.

In one corner, PWHS has operated in Northern Virginia for 45 years. The site they have planned is correctly zoned in a good location near where Route 66 and Route 15 meet. They have the trust of the community and are eager to expand.

In the other corner is Sentara Healthcare which just recently entered the NoVA territory. In October last year they merged with Potomac Hospital in Woodbridge. They mainly operate out of the Norfolk-Tidewater area with some of the most technologically medical advances in the country, including an electronic medical records program.

The Sentara proposed site is not currently zoned for a hospital, is right next to Jiffy Lube Live (Nissan Pavilion) and would be subjected to noise pollution and concert traffic. It also would be built over a former Atlantic Research Corporation facility that was used to test rocket motors and gas generators, among other things. The area was flagged for environmental violations regarding handling and storage of hazardous wastes after it closed in 2005. The soil and groundwater has to be further treated before the land can be usable.

At the hearing last night Sentara representatives were asked about this process and did not get into a lot of detail with their answer, simply stating that there was enough money in their proposal for cleanup efforts.

About 300 people attended the hearing with around 75% in support of the PWHS proposal. Delegate Jackson Miller (R-50), Prince William County Sherriff Glendell Hill, and Manassas Mayor Harry Parrish were some of the more notable public officials who spoke in support of the PWHS proposal.

PWHS is doing a major push for this new hospital. They are enlisting as much help from the community and the media as they can muster. They also seem a bit ticked that a Norfolk based company is trying to move in on the population that they have served for almost half a century; I know I would be (hence the aforementioned Sopranos reference). So the drama is still unfolding and there are more chapters to be written on this lightning rod of an issue for local citizens.

The hearing last night was only the beginning, this will continue for some time. There seems to be more to this story than meets the eye because I really can’t believe that Sentara wants to build a hospital next to the loudest venue in the county and on top of toxic land. I’m hoping to get a hold of someone from Sentara to hear their position.

I’m going to stick with this story throughout the summer and will report back on any updates.

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