Erlanger and CHI Memorial are both based in Chattanooga, Tenn. Here are seven insights.
1. Representatives for CHI Memorial and Catoosa County government argued Erlanger’s proposed surgery center in Ringgold, Ga. would take patients and money from CHI Memorial.
2. Erlanger applied for a CON for its $9.8 million surgery center in November 2017. On the application, Erlanger argued CHI Memorial must apply for a CON for its surgery center because the one held by the building’s previous owner, Fort Oglethorpe-based Hutcheson Medical Center, had lapsed..
3. Kathlynn Polvino, an attorney representing the opposition to Erlanger’s proposal, said CHI Memorial operates Hutchenson’s former main campus, so by extension, it operates the surgery center, even though the center has remained vacant for significant time Ms. Polvino said the CON doesn’t simply lapse.
4. The Catoosa County Commission filed a letter of opposition against Erlanger’s proposal earlier this year.
5. Dalton, Ga.-based Hamilton Medical Center also filed a letter of opposition to Erlanger’s plan saying the area has more surgery operating rooms than needed. Hamilton said its hospital has the capacity to handle 1,700 more surgeries a year and estimated it would lose $1.3 million a year if Erlanger’s facility opens.
6. CHI Memorial has begun renovating Hutchenson’s abandoned surgery building, buying equipment and recruiting surgeons for its planned surgery center.
7. The deadline for Erlanger to file a response to the opposition is March 16. The Georgia Department of Community Health will make a decision on Erlanger’s application March 26.
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