It’s been a long time coming, but Bon Secours announced today in a press release that the certificate of public need (COPN) to build a new 124-bed DePaul hospital has been issued.
“We are pleased that the Deputy Commissioner has approved our plan to build a new Bon Secours DePaul,” said Peter J. Bernard, CEO, Bon Secours Virginia Health System. “As we plan for and look ahead to the new DePaul, Bon Secours will remain committed to growing our programs and services, and providing exceptional, personalized care.”
Public outrage, plus denial by the same state board, prompted the health care company to revise its plans to replacing the aging facility with a 64-bed hospital. It is good to see that the new plan has been accepted and I am looking forward to the 2014 completion of the hospital.
The full press release is below the fold.
Hampton Roads’ First Community Hospital Gains Approval to Become the Newest Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center Approved for New 124 Bed Hospital
Norfolk, Va. (March 04, 2010) – Bon Secours Virginia Health System announced today that the Virginia Deputy State Health Commissioner has issued a certificate of public need (COPN) to replace the existing Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center with a 124-bed, state-of-the-art, full-service hospital.
“We are pleased that the Deputy Commissioner has approved our plan to build a new Bon Secours DePaul,” said Peter J. Bernard, CEO, Bon Secours Virginia Health System. “As we plan for and look ahead to the new DePaul, Bon Secours will remain committed to growing our programs and services, and providing exceptional, personalized care.”
The COPN for the new DePaul authorizes:
• 124 acute-care beds which will include:
o Intensive care unit
o Obstetrical unit
o Full-service emergency department
o Operative suites
o Advanced imaging center, to include MRI and CT
o Cardiac catheterization
o Radiation therapy services
o LithotripsyPlans call for the new 300,000 square foot, $200 million facility to be located on the current hospital site at 150 Kingsley Lane in Norfolk; the COPN proposes completion in late 2014. As the health system prepares for the opening, there will be opportunities for the community to support the building of a new DePaul with philanthropic efforts.
“Our vision for the new Bon Secours DePaul reflects what we have learned from the community, this is a real win for the people of Hampton Roads as well as for Bon Secours,” said Michael K. Kerner, CEO, Bon Secours Hampton Roads Health System. “DePaul has nearly a 154-year long legacy of serving the region with passion and purpose. A new hospital would enable us to continue this work for many years to come.”
DePaul, a 154-year Ministry to Hampton Roads
DePaul has been serving the people of Hampton Roads for nearly 154 years. The Hospital of St. Vincent DePaul, Norfolk’s first hospital open to the public, was incorporated by the Virginia legislature on March 3, 1856. The eight-room hospital served 100 patients in its first year. As the Daughters of Charity mission expanded, they added a clinic for the poor in 1892 and started a training school for nurses in 1893. In 1899, a fire nearly destroyed the hospital that had grown to 150 rooms; however, the hospital continued to operate out of other buildings and undamaged wings until the rebuilt, larger hospital opened in 1901. In 1944, a 259-bed hospital was established at 150 Kingsley Lane and renamed DePaul Hospital.The 1960s were years of significant technological and medical advances in inpatient care, diagnoses, and treatment. During this period, DePaul Hospital recorded many medical achievements. The area’s first intensive care and coronary units opened at the hospital in the early 1960’s. The first microvascular flap in the United States was performed at DePaul Hospital and it was the setting for the Hampton Roads first ankle replacement.
By the 1970’s, DePaul Medical Center had established itself as a state-of-the-art 366-bed full-service hospital, providing a comprehensive array of inpatient and ambulatory diagnostic and treatment services.
In 1996, the sponsorship of DePaul Medical Center was transferred to the Sisters of Bon Secours to ensure that the mission of the Daughters of Charity could continue. With the transfer to the Bon Secours Health System, the facility was renamed Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center.
Bon Secours DePaul continued to change to serve the community. In 2000, the medical center converted 24 medical surgical beds to develop the Transitional Care Center and delicensed 104 acute care beds to become a 238-bed medical center.
In 2005, Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center continued to make its mark in medical care. Neurosurgeon Grant Skidmore, MD, performed Hampton Roads first and the nation’s second X-stop procedure for spinal stenosis.
Bon Secours Health System began the application process for 124-bed replacement hospital in late 2008. Since that time, Bon Secours has continued to invest in programs and services at DePaul to better serve the community. These improvements have included the opening of the renovated Emergency Department with a 30-minute service guarantee in early 2009.
Also in 2009, the medical center opened a renovated 25-bed cardiovascular inpatient unit and a seven-bed interventional care unit (IVCU) for cardiac catheterization and interventional cardiac care patients.
Site preparations and planning for the campus improvements began in December 2009.
Groundbreaking for a new medical office building on the campus is anticipated in 2010.About Bon Secours Virginia Health System Bon Secours Virginia Health System (BSV), the fourth largest and only faith-based health system in Virginia, is comprised of Bon Secours Richmond and Bon Secours Hampton Roads. BSV includes seven award-winning hospitals; four in Richmond and three in Hampton Roads. Bon Secours brings together a network of hospitals, primary care practices, ambulatory care sites and continuing care facilities to provide quality health care services to thousands of Virginians. The not-for-profit Catholic health system employs nearly 11,000 people. Bon Secours Virginia hospitals offer a full-range of services including cardiac, women’s, children’s, orthopaedics, oncology, neurosciences, surgery. Bon Secours Virginia is the only system of hospitals in Virginia that guarantees patients service within 30-minutes of entering one of its Emergency Departments.
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