Baycare petitions to stop rivals from building hospital

The state rejects Baycare's proposed teaching facility.

By CHUIN-WEI YAP
Published July 10, 2007

WESLEY CHAPEL – Baycare Health System said Monday it would file a petition to stop a new hospital from being built by two rival health care groups.

The challenge, which Baycare plans to file within two weeks, adds a new twist to an outcry among residents near the hospital's proposed site at State Road 54 and Tupper Road. Residents say the new facility will pose problems for their quality of life.

But their biggest neighbor, Saddlebrook Resorts, said it did not oppose the planned hospital.

Last month state officials cleared the way for a joint proposal from University Community Health and Adventist Health System.

The state rejected a rival bid from Baycare and the University of South Florida's medical school to build a teaching hospital.

Baycare officials said in a statement Monday that they were glad the state recognized a need for a hospital in central Pasco, but contested the Agency for Health Care Administration's assessment that the area does not need a teaching hospital. Baycare said its hospital would also increase competition and lower costs.

"Our proposal would best meet the health care and education needs of the community," said spokeswoman Amy Lovett.

In its decision, the state agency said Baycare could not meet the size requirements for a teaching hospital, which must have at least 100 full-time resident physicians. Baycare proposed a 130-bed facility with substantially fewer than 100 staff members.

But Lovett said Baycare plans to argue before the state Division of Administrative Hearings that it would take several years to evolve into a full teaching hospital and won't open as a "statutory teaching hospital."

Phoebe Ochman, UCH's spokeswoman, said the state agency obviously believed the UCH-Adventist proposal suited the community's needs.

Fernando Senra, the agency's spokesman, said Baycare had a right to appeal.

In its statement, Baycare said it already owns a correctly zoned 35-acre parcel along Bruce B. Downs Boulevard in the Seven Oaks community.

UCH and Adventist are currently facing dozens of angry neighbors over the proposed location on 40 acres at Tupper Road.

The County Commission will decide today whether it agrees with UCH's efforts to change the county's comprehensive land use plan to allow the new facility.

But the area's biggest neighbor, Saddlebrook, isn't joining the opposition.

"I think the area needs a hospital," said Tom Dempsey, Saddlebrook's owner. "As long as we're expanding the roads, we hope it's all in balance."

County officials want to start widening that stretch of SR 54 in early 2009. UCH plans to open its new hospital in 2011.

Some neighbors asked if Dempsey was reserving his opposition because of his plans to bring a new tennis stadium to the same area.

Dempsey said the stadium doesn't affect his views on the hospital.

"That's not the reason I would oppose it or not oppose it," Dempsey said. "The stadium's traffic would come off the proposed Porter Boulevard, and if anything, impact County Road 581 (Bruce B. Downs) more. I don't think the stadium will be an impact on 54."

Chuin-Wei Yap can be reached at (813) 909-4613 or cyap@sptimes.com.

[Last modified July 9, 2007, 23:22:03]