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St. Joseph's, South Bay still eyeing Big Bend Road

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By SHERRI LONON

THE SUN

Published: November 4, 2009

As St. Joseph's Hospital awaits final approval to build a new facility on Big Bend Road, South Bay Hospital is still planning relocation to the area.

"We haven't changed anything at this time," said Melissa Morgan, spokeswoman for South Bay. "It is our intent to continue to pursue our strategy for Big Bend development. Plans are under way."

South Bay received approval in 2007 from the state's Agency for Health Care Administration to relocate its Sun City Center facility to Big Bend Road.

In the meantime, St. Joseph's appealed the ACHA's rejection of its bid to build in the area. The hospital recently won its bid with the state District Court of Appeals.

St. Joseph's is now waiting for the ACHA to issue a certificate of need so it can move forward with plans to build, said Lisa Patterson, spokeswoman for St. Joseph's.

"It's really a matter of paperwork at this point," said Patterson, adding that the document is expected within 30 days.

For St. Joseph's, the issue has been tied up since 2005 when the AHCA turned down its initial application. At that time, both St. Joseph's and South Bay Hospital in Sun City Center requested certificates of need to build along Big Bend Road. South Bay originally intended to build a facility in addition to its existing Sun City Center location. That bid was rejected, but the relocation request met with approval from the AHCA.

Although the news from the court is encouraging, Patterson said St. Joseph's is holding off on celebrations and big announcements until the certificate is well in hand.

"I've seen how long this has gone (on) and how many things can happen," she said.

If the certificate is granted as expected, Patterson said the hospital would go into high-gear planning the new facility. St. Joseph's would have three years from the date of the certificate's issuance to begin continuous construction, she said.

Although finalized plans are not yet in place, Patterson said the south Hillsborough facility has long been on the minds of hospital administrators. The Big Bend Road property was actually purchased in the 1980s with the idea that the growing southern part of Hillsborough would eventually need another hospital, she said. The land is located between Interstate 75 and U.S. 301.

Initial plans for the facility call for about 90 private rooms to serve an estimated 40,000 patients a year. The hospital would have surgical suites, an obstetrics department, outpatient facilities and other features. The hospital is anticipated to serve residents from Lithia, Valrico, Sun City Center, Wimauma, Riverview and other surrounding communities.

As the waiting continues in south Hillsborough, Patterson said plans are on track for a Feb. 1, 2010, opening of a new facility in the northern part of the county. The new St. Joseph's Hospital-North is located on Van Dyke Road near the intersection with Dale Mabry Highway. Getting ready to open this 108-bed facility has provided many lessons that will ultimately benefit the south county hospital, she said.

"We'll have had the experience of just opening the other one," Patterson said.

If final approval is granted, Patterson said the south county facility likely wouldn't open until sometime in 2015.

"You've got to do it right."

Sherri Lonon can be reached at slonon@mediageneral.com or at (813) 731-1976.

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