State Approves Plantation General Hospital's Move To NSU
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DAVIE (CBSMiami) - Plantation General Hospital has been given the green light by the state to move to a new facility at Nova Southeastern University.
On Tuesday, the state's Agency for Health Care Administration announced its final approval of the hospital's relocation from 401 NW 42nd Avenue, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
Construction could begin next summer on the new $220 million five story hospital. The hospital plans to move 200 of its current 264 beds, including acute care, psychiatric, and neonatal to the new location which could be open by 2018. NSU President Dr. George Hanbury the hospital will be part of an "academical village" that includes the university, a teaching hospital and a research facility.
A stand-alone emergency room and space for outpatient surgery would be left in Plantation, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
Last month, administrative law Judge W. David Watkins backed a preliminary decision by the state Agency for Health Care Administration to grant what is known as a "certificate of need" for the project.
Watkins wrote in a 77-page order that a need exists for the new hospital, pointing in part to the outdated facility in Plantation.
"PGH's (Plantation General Hospital's) relocation to the NSU campus will enhance access for residents of the current and proposed service area by providing a new physical plant,'' Watkins wrote. "The modern amenities of PGH's new hospital will significantly enhance the availability and quality of services when compared to its current facility. PGH will be able to offer more specialty services within its current service lines, and the relationship with NSU will attract quality health-care providers to the area."
The City of Plantation was opposed to the move, saying it would hurt residents with little ability to pay. The new hospital will be 6.7 miles away from its current location.
Also opposed to the move was Memorial Healthcare System and Cleveland Clinic Hospital, both of which also serve the area. Memorial, for example, has a hospital in Pembroke Pines, while Cleveland Clinic has a facility in Weston.
Plantation General, is part of the HCA health-care chain, which also operates Westside Regional Medical Center on Plantation's western side, University Hospital & Medical Center in Tamarac and Northwest Medical Center in Margate.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
