BY GLORIA BUTLER BALDWIN

Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown received a certificate of need (CON) at a December hearing at the Tennessee Health Services and Development Agency, for the transfer of 100 of its acute care beds from three of its locations to the Germantown facility.

A CON was also granted for a replacement hospital for Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center. The new Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center hospital will be located on property adjacent to the existing facility and will include renovation in the former hospital building; the conversion of 15 pediatric acute care beds to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) beds; and the acquisition of a new intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit. Renovation in the existing facility and new construction of the replacement facility will total 775,500 square feet, for an estimated total project cost of $326,000. This project will not change the Methodist Healthcare-Memphis Hospital's 1,551-bed general hospital license, nor initiate or discontinue any health services.

Baptist Rehabilitation-Germantown in Shelby County received approval for the development and operation of an additional MRI outpatient facility. A lease agreement with an Orthomemphis filing on a separate CON will allow doctors to use the same equipment.

Mid-South Gastroenterology Group in east Shelby County received a CON for the establishment of an ambulatory surgical treatment center to provide endoscopy services. The 10-bed ASTC will include three procedure rooms where gastroenterology procedures will be performed.

Orthomemphis, PC, will begin initiating MRI services with the acquisition by lease of an MRI. Vascular Access Clinic, LLC, got the go-ahead for the establishment of a multidisciplinary health facility housing nephrologists, surgeons and vascular radiologists for vascular intervention procedures, screening for peripheral vascular disease, and diabetes for early detention and intervention.

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis received a CON in September for a $10 million renovation to its emergency department. According to COO Don Laughlin, approximately 28,091 square feet of existing space will be renovated and expanded resulting in an increase from 37 to 42 beds, and the number of exam rooms will increase from 24 to 40. The reconfiguration of the ER will result in enhanced patient privacy. An addition to the ER will add approximately 5,490 square feet of space including a new ambulatory entrance; an expanded waiting room; security; reception, registration, billing and cashier functions; triage; exam rooms and observation stations; and a new electrical room.

Saint Francis president and CEO David Archer said hospital leaders are excited about the project and what it will mean to employees, physicians and patients.

"Once complete, our new ER will reduce patient wait times and improve our efficiency and allow us to better respond to the emergency care needs of our community," Archer said.

Memphis Long Term Care Specialty Hospital in Shelby County will establish a hospital containing 24 long-term specialty hospital beds to provide long-term acute care services.

The 631-bed Regional Medical Center at Memphis will begin mobile lithotripsy services two days per month on the hospital campus. This project will not initiate any other health services. The lithotripsy project does not contain any other major medical equipment and will not affect the licensed bed complement of the hospital.

Select Specialty Hospitals got the green light for a new freestanding hospital to be located in the Memphis area. The company couldn't give much detail, but Carolyn Cranier, spokesperson for Select Specialty, said they are "moving forward with the project."




Fbruary 2007