Palmyra Wins Obstetrical Services Appeal Decision
HOSPITAL VOWS TO MOVE FORWARD IN EFFORT TO OFFER MOTHERS-TO-BE THIS IMPORTANT HEALTHCARE CHOICE
ALBANY, GA October 21, 2009- Palmyra Medical Center learned today the Hearing Officer with the Certificate of Need (CON) Appeal Panel affirmed and upheld the original Department of Community Health (DCH) decision to grant a CON to Palmyra to begin delivering babies. In January DCH approved the hospital’s CON application to provide Level One Obstetrical Services to the people of Albany and southwest Georgia.
“Palmyra is very encouraged that our original Certificate of Need application has been affirmed by the Appeal Panel Hearing Officer because it means we are one step closer to providing Obstetrical Services for families in our service area,” said Mark Rader, Chief Executive Officer at Palmyra. “As we’ve said from the time the CON was filed in August 2008, competition and choice in this important healthcare service will improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of healthcare for area residents.”
Rader added, “The most important thing is the citizens of Albany have asked repeatedly for a choice where they can birth their children. We will continue to make every effort to assure people have that choice in the future.”
Rader noted that Palmyra appreciates the community standing by the hospital throughout the long struggle to bring this service to Palmyra and to bring choice to southwest Georgia. “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from patients, physicians, community leaders and others,” said Rader. “We know everyone is ready to get this process behind us and to allow Palmyra to compete fairly for the privilege to deliver babies.”
Rader extended thanks to the State of Georgia and the Department of Community Health because they recognize choice and competition in healthcare is good for all Georgians. “It works everywhere else in the state, and we know it will work in Albany too,” added Rader.
Palmyra’s proposal to provide Basic Level One Obstetrical Services includes developing a new Women’s Center that will offer labor and delivery services as well as basic inpatient care for new mothers and newborns without complications. The entire Obstetrical Wing at Palmyra will offer state-of-the-art technology in the most comfortable environment for mothers and for family members who may be part of the birthing experience. Palmyra officials said they are ready to move ahead quickly with final design and construction.
“Palmyra’s goal is to provide the best designed center which ultimately will provide the highest quality, safest outcomes and the best experience for our mothers and their newborns,” Rader said. “We have talked with many experts including OB/GYN physicians already on staff to help assure we offer the area’s preeminent birthing center.”
Palmyra stated previously that once it gains final CON approval the facility could deliver its first baby within one year.
About Palmyra Medical Center
Palmyra Medical Center is a 248-bed acute care hospital, serving southwest Georgia since 1971. With more than 400 employees and 200 on-staff physicians, the hospital’s caregivers treat nearly 70,000 patients and perform nearly 5,000 surgeries each year. Palmyra Medical Center provided approximately $15 million in charity and uncompensated care and uninsured discounts in 2008.
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