Sentara, Bon Secours seek joint hospital in Va. Beach

Competing health-care organizations Bon Secours Virginia and Sentara Health announced a joint proposal today for a 200-bed hospital in the Princess Anne section of Virginia Beach.

It would require approval from the State Health Commission.

Bon Secours and Sentara had come up short with separate plans for new hospitals in Virginia Beach. Sentara's proposal for a 90-bed hospital was turned down in March, while Bon Secours received permission for a hospital with 120 beds, fewer than it wanted.

Both companies have appealed in court.

Under the new plan, they would drop their appeals and work together on a hospital on land owned by Sentara. Both companies would offer to reduce the number of inpatient beds at two hospitals they own nearby, and move those beds into a new Sentara Princess Anne Hospital.

For details, see tomorrow's Richmond Times-Dispatch. -- Bill Geroux