Hospital gets COPN

Staff report

Johnston Memorial Hospital’s plans to build a new facility off U.S. Highway 11 got a green light from the state recently.
The state Health Commissioner approved the hospital’s Certificate of Public Need.
“We are pleased that the state has granted our requests to build a new hospital,” said hospital Chief Executive Officer Sean McMurray in a [trdd release. “The new hospital will allow us to better accommodate the health care needs of our community.”
Hospital Chief Operating Officer Steve Givens said that, while the Johnson City, Tenn.,-based Mountain States Health Alliance-affiliated hospital hasn’t started the bidding process to find a contractor yet. Atlanta, Ga.,-based RJ Griffin and Co., however, was hired as the construction manager. McMurray said ground should be broken for the new facility in September.
According to the Virginia Department of Health Web site, the Certificate of Public Need is required of medical facilities in order to do a number of things, including capital expenditures like building a new hospital. The Web site said this was in place in order to keep healthcare costs reasonable for Virginia residents.
Johnston Memorial Hospital administration plans to build the hospital as an addition to the existing Cancer Center on Lee Highway between I-81 exits 19 and 22.