Date Set for Berkeley County CON

The court hearing to determine whether medically underserved northern Berkeley County will get a new hospital has been set for Feb. 7, 2011.

The South Carolina Administrative Law Court issued a Consent Scheduling Order setting the date for Trident Health System to present its case against the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and Roper St. Francis Healthcare.

In August 2009, Trident appealed the decision by the department to grant a Certificate of Need (CON) to Roper for construction of a 50-bed, acute-care hospital in Berkeley County. Trident contends that the department ignored the State Health Plan and the State Licensure and Certificate of Need Act when it granted the CON. In addition, Trident asked the court to reverse the department’s finding that Trident and Roper are not competing applicants in the CON process.

Following is a statement from Todd Gallati, President and CEO of Trident Health System.
“One-third of Berkeley County residents must drive more than 30 minutes to reach a hospital. That is why Trident is planning Berkeley Regional Medical Center, a full-service, 50-bed, acute-care hospital to be built in Moncks Corner. The facility will increase access and fulfill a need for medical services in the traditionally underserved area of northern Berkeley County.

“Another issue is financial viability, which is the key to any hospital’s success. If both Trident and Roper are allowed to build, both systems will experience massive financial losses that are estimated to exceed $75 million in the first four years of operation.  Future and current access to services for area residents will be compromised as a result of the financial strain.

“We feel strongly that the department made a mistake when it approved CONs for both Trident and Roper, and its decision goes against everything the CON process stands for. We hope that the Administrative Law Court will keep the needs of Berkeley County in mind and overturn the decision to approve Roper’s CON application.”

Trident Health System is an HCA healthcare system comprised of two acute care hospitals – Trident Medical Center and Summerville Medical Center – as well as Moncks Corner Medical Center, a 24 hour Emergency Department. Accredited by The Joint Commission, Trident Health System is committed to providing quality health services along with wellness information and opportunities to the communities it serves. For more information about Trident Health System, please visit our website at www.tridenthealthsystem.com or call 843.797.7000.