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Residents, State Sens. Discuss Hospital Issue

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 2, 2008

SUN CITY CENTER - SUN CITY CENTER - More than 200 South Shore residents on Thursday had the opportunity to voice their concerns about a new hospital on Big Bend Road to members of the county and state government.

State Sens. Ronda Storms, R-Brandon, and Victor Crist, R-Tampa, along with County Commissioners Brian Blair and Mark Sharpe, were among the guests at the town meeting at the Sun City Center Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd.

The issue at hand was the competition between the Hospital Corporation of America and St. Joseph's Hospital to build a new facility on Big Bend Road in Riverview.

In December, the state's Agency on Health Care Administration issued a statement allowing South Bay Hospital to relocate from its Sun City Center location, 4016 State Road 674, about eight miles north to Riverview on land it already owns.

In their application, South Bay officials said they would provide a shuttle service from the Sun City Center facility to the new hospital and keep services such as diagnostic care and an emergency room at the current site. Fulfilling those commitments factored into the agency's decision to approve the move. The state also concluded the new facility is more centrally located, making it more readily accessible to a greater number of people.

Still, Sun City Center residents expressed concerns about losing the hospital, citing the growing population in the area surrounding Ruskin and Wimauma areas.

"I've been treated in hospitals all over the world, including Europe," said Donald Croll, a Sun City Center resident who sat in the front row for the meeting. "South Bay is the best care I've ever had."

They are also worried about emergency response times to the new hospital.

Paul Wheat, president of the 11,000 member community association, has noted that traffic on U.S. 301, the primary route to the proposed new hospital, is often clogged and is scheduled for major work in the next few years.

"Our hope is that we can keep a strong hospital in Sun City Center with a fast response time, while making room for a new facility," Sharpe said.

That new facility now has an opportunity to come to fruition.

In May, an administrative law judge filed a recommendation supporting St. Joseph's bid to construct its own facility on Big Bend Road. This followed an appeal after its bid to the AHCA was rejected in December at the same time the agency approved South Bay's proposal.

Though it is unlikely the state would approve construction of two hospitals in south Hillsborough within such close proximity of each other, Storms made the case for such a scenario.

"We live in a capitalist society and competition is a big part of that," Storm said. "Competition is crucial in any field, but I feel it is extremely important in the medical profession to help promote greater quality of health care services."

The administrative law judge's recommendation now goes back to AHCA, which will decide whether to support the decision in favor of a new facility for St. Joseph's or uphold its original ruling in favor of the South Bay move.

South Shore residents hope support from the county commission, state senate and others will help convince the AHCA to let Sun City Center hang on to South Bay Hospital.

"We're praying you don't lose the hospital here and we will fight to keep South Bay Hospital where it is and at its full capacity," Blair said.

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampatrib.com.

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