FYI [status report on the Moses Cone Hospital building project]

              AN INTERIM PUBLICATION ON  ISSUES OF   INTEREST TO MOSES CONE HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES.
PRODUCED BY THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
STATUS REPORT ON THE MOSES CONE HOSPITAL BUILDING PROJECT
Earlier this week, officials of The Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital
decided not to appeal the decision of the North Carolina Department of
Human Resources to award a Certificate of Need to Greensboro Hospital
instead of Moses Cone for 30 additional beds.  The decision, made after
careful consideration of all the facts, was primarily based on a change
the Department of Human Resources made in their earlier, May 27, 1982,
decision which denied Moses Cone Hospital the 30 beds and permission to
build a second and third floor patient care unit in the new building,
and the need to start the project in the near future.
During negotiations over the May 27 decision, officials of Moses
Cone Hospital pointed out to the Department of Human Resources that
without the additional patient care space it would be virtually impossible
to renovate.  After an on-site visit they agreed and reversed their
previous decision.
Had we decided to appeal the decision, our addition and renovation
project would have been delayed at least one year.  The financial impact
and the impact on health care to the community would have been very
detrimental.  However, had we appealed, we are confident we would have
won.  Our grounds for appeal were sound, but the appeal would have been
costly in time and money.
While the failure to capture the 30 beds is disappointing, restoring the viability of the addition and renovation project is far more
important.  The Greensboro Record praised the Cone decision not to
appeal on its editorial page.  They said in part, "Greensboro was well
served by the Cone decision not to appeal the unfavorable verdict by
the Department of Human Resources.  As stated by hospital officials
an appeal would have dragged out the controversy for months.  The delay
would not have been in the best interest of the community."
Upon completion of the project, we will be operating at full
licensure of 489 beds (vs. 456 today) and about 50% of the rooms we will
be operating will be private.
The project will begin within the next few weeks with the construction
of parking areas to replace those taken by the new building.  Completion
is scheduled for early 1986.
During this entire process, the employees of The Moses H. Cone
Memorial Hospital have been extraordinary in the interest and concern
they have shown in the project.  As we go forward with the construction
and renovation, we will continue to keep you informed of our progress.