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Judge's Ruling Puts South Shore Hospital Plans In Gray Area

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By LIZ BLEAU | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 16, 2008

RIVERVIEW - A recommendation by an administrative law judge Thursday has clouded the question of who will get to build a hospital in the growing South Shore area at Big Bend Road.

Everyone thought the issue had been resolved late last year when the state Agency for Health Care Administration ruled that the Hospital Corporation of America would be allowed to close South Bay Hospital in Sun City Center and build a facility on land it owns along Big Bend Road, about eight miles north of its current site on State Road 674.

But that ruling may now be affected by a recommendation from an administrative law judge who is supporting an earlier rival bid by St. Joseph's Hospital to build a hospital at Big Bend Road.

It is highly unlikely the state would allow two hospitals to be built in the area. Construction of hospitals must be supported by need, using population numbers and other hospital services in the area.

South Bay Hospital's bid to relocate to Big Bend Road was heavily opposed by residents of the retirement community who wanted to continue to have a local hospital.

The bid to relocate was South Bay's second request to build a facility at Big Bend Road. In 2005, both hospitals applied to build expansion facilities at Big Bend Road and both were denied by AHCA, which said the need for a new facility had not been proved.

St. Joseph's and South Bay both appealed the decision denying the 2005 applications. South Bay then withdrew its appeal and filed a new application seeking to relocate to Big Bend Road rather than build an expansion facility there.

The hearings on St. Joseph's appeal were held in fall 2007, and the recommendation of the administrative law judge supporting its bid to build on Big Bend Road was filed Thursday.

That recommendation now goes to AHCA, which must decide whether to support the law judge and overturn its original decision or uphold its original denial of St. Joseph's bid and reject the judge's recommendation.

In the meantime, South Bay has been granted AHCA approval to relocate to Big Bend Road.

South Bay is proceeding with those plans, said hospital spokeswoman Melissa Morgan, adding that the hospital is disappointed with the judge's recommendation.

Lisa Patterson, spokeswoman for St. Joseph's Hospital, said the recommendation "is a step in the right direction."

"We have said all along that St. Joseph's offers the community a choice it does not now have," she said. "We are a not-for-profit hospital, and all the others in the area are for-profit.

"Also, we are proposing to add hospital beds to meet the needs of a growing area instead of offering replacement beds."

Paul Wheat, president of the 11,000-member Sun City Center Community Association, said his group is planning to send letters to AHCA supporting the decision of the administrative law judge in hopes the result will be that South Bay will not close its existing facility.

Reporter Liz Bleau can be reached at (813) 865-1557 or lbleau@tampatrib.com.

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