Retirement News : Seniors : Hospital group to appeal long-term care facility denial

Hospital group to appeal long-term care facility denial

Date Added: 11-08-2005

A national hospital company wanting to build a long-term care hospital in Daytona Beach -- the first of its kind in Volusia County -- is appealing a thumbs-down decision from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.

Patients needing intensive, long-term care in the Volusia-Flagler market have a difficulty getting it now, Kindred Healthcare officials contend to the state's Division of Administrative Hearings. The closest long-term care hospitals are at Green Cove Springs, Jacksonville and Orlando.

However, Louisville, Ky.-based Kindred in 2003 opposed another company's plans to build a long-term care hospital in Volusia, saying it would be a "wasteful duplication" of services already available at Green Cove Springs in Clay County, according to state documents.

A June 17 decision from the state Agency for Health Care Administration said Kindred had failed to demonstrate that circumstances had changed.

"The applicant did not demonstrate that those residents living in Volusia County did not have access to (long-term care hospital) services," the decision reads. ". . . When another LTCH proposed to establish a hospital in this area for essentially the same reasons, the applicant stated opposition, indicating its Clay County facility would be adversely impacted . . ."

Kindred Healthcare officials -- who filed an appeal of the state's decision July 28 -- were not available for comment Monday or Tuesday. The company, through its subsidiaries, operates 73 hospitals, 248 nursing centers and 38 pharmacies.

Florida has 12 long-term health care hospitals, which focus on patients in comas or patients requiring support from complex medical machinery, such as a ventilator. The state has given certificates of need to seven other long-term care hospitals, but those facilities' beds -- including some in Orange and Clay counties -- haven't been licensed yet.

Last year, the long-term care hospital in Clay County discharged 54 Volusia residents from its facility; Select Specialty Hospital in Orlando discharged 21 and Specialty Hospital Jacksonville, five.

Volusia County politicians and hospital administrators across the spectrum wrote the state in support of Kindred's application. Ann Martorano, executive director of the Volusia Health Network, was one of the supporters.

"When we have someone like that (needing long-term, acute care), which isn't too often, we end up having to send them out of town," Martorano said.

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