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Updated: Jun 19th, 2005 - 20:05:13 |
Disappointed once in their quest for a hospital, Oviedo officials are worried anew whether the latest company to get permission to build really will do so.
After a meeting called last week by the city to get some answers from Health Management Associates Inc., though, council members said their fears have been allayed somewhat.
"It is HMA's firm commitment and intent to build you a hospital as expeditiously as possible," Mike Mastej, the company's vice president of acquisitions and development, told city officials Monday night.
"Taking the message he brought to us the other night at face value, which I do, I think . . . they're going to bring us a hospital if they can," Mayor Tom Walters said. "Their intent is sincere."
In December, HMA got permission from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration to build a hospital. But the Naples company must wait until an administrative law judge rules on an appeal filed by the losing bidder, Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford. A judge is scheduled to hear the case in January.
Even if HMA wins the appeal, a hospital probably wouldn't open until 2008 because of the delay.
It surprised some city officials when the state gave a nod to HMA, a relative unknown in the area, rather than to Central Florida Regional Hospital, which already owns land for its proposed facility and has recruited physicians to the Oviedo area.
Mastej said he thinks his company's proposal was more appealing because its proposed hospital would offer a broader range of services.
Mastej said HMA is still looking for land and has a couple of possible sites, though a deal probably wouldn't be finalized unless it wins its appeal. The company needs about 40 acres, which would include space for growth, Mastej said.
Oviedo's quest for a hospital began in 2001, when Florida Hospital and Orlando Regional Healthcare System launched rival bids. In early 2003, the state gave Florida Hospital the right to build. But last June, hospital officials backed down, saying a large number of medical malpractice lawsuits in Florida would make it too difficult to recruit physicians and nurses to the new facility.
Meanwhile, Florida Hospital announced plans to add 455 beds and upgrade its heart-care facilities as part of a major expansion at three of its Central Florida hospitals.
Some city officials, including Walters, theorized that Florida Hospital never seriously intended to build in Oviedo, but for competitive reasons wanted to block out Orlando Regional. Officials say they don't see the same situation for HMA, which has no presence in Central Florida
Still, City Council member Todd Russell said he remains nervous.
"We were frustrated by the last process we went through, and we don't want to go through that same kind of situation, where promise, promise, promise and nothing is delivered," he said.
Seminole County Watch.com
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