Dulles South Hospital Status - StoneSpring Medical Center Update

We've all here in SoLoCo been patiently waiting (well, not without some ole-fashioned, rancorous debate over the past few years) for modern, substantial Dulles South healthcare facilities to arrive within a 30 minute drive-time radius...The new StoneSpring Medical Center by HCA is now in the detailed planning stages, having cleared the necessary approval phases - or is it? We put some questions to the very busy HCA PR team, and got some good questions answered...

GLC: How do you feel the new hospital will drive economic improvement in the area, and when might this start? (...meaning, can we get going quickly? Would be pretty useful to start driving economic impact right now, even though the hospital isn't slated to open fully until "late 2015"...)

HCA: "Hospitals are strong economic drivers in communities, generating good-paying jobs, tax revenues, and downstream employment. In fact, studies show that every $1 in health care revenue generates an additional $1.30 of revenue in other industries, and every job created in health care creates a corresponding job outside of the field. In addition, the StoneSpring Medical Campus will join Capital Hospice and the Health South Rehabilitation Hospital on Route 50 to create a medical hub that will drive additional health care and commercial growth. During construction on the StoneSpring Campus, HCA Virginia will use many local contractors and purchase goods and services from local companies, stimulating Loudoun’s economy. And as a tax-paying health care system, HCA Virginia and its employees will fund important community services."

GLC: Are you expecting synergies with other local development going on? (i.e., will you drive some nifty new restaurants or help get the Rt. 50 traffic improved?)

HCA: "The StoneSpring Medical Campus, along with Capital Hospice (GLC: ...with offices in Leesburg) and the Health South Rehabilitation Hospital, will create a medical hub that should stimulate additional health care and commercial growth. Some of those growth opportunities are already planned and approved. In addition, commercial and residential developments adjacent to the medical campus will lead to significant road infrastructure additions to the corridor, thereby improving traffic flow for residents as wells as StoneSpring patients and visitors."

GLC: Do you anticipate a significant community outreach/involvement program, and when might we start seeing some of this start? (...beyond social media conversations through nifty blogs like this one! BTW, now's the time to start following @loudoun through the new twitter ID you'll likely set up, hint, hint...)

HCA: "As is HCA Virginia’s custom, we have worked closely with the community since the announcement of our plans for StoneSpring Medical Campus. We have held community information sessions, have met with local homeowner’s associations, and have sponsored local nonprofit community events, among related activities. Many of these activities continue. As StoneSpring enters the architectural and planning phases we will continue to invite stakeholders to review our plans and to help shape the campus and its facilities. Such dialogue will include EMS squads, physicians, and community leaders, as well as others. HCA Virginia facilities and management teams are always closely connected to the communities that we serve, and StoneSpring Medical Campus will follow this important standard."

GLC: What feedback or information would you want to collect, from local businesses and citizens? (i.e. lunch menu suggestions, ambulance route suggestions, soccer team sponsorship opportunities, etc.)

HCA: "It is important that we have a two-way communication with our neighbors along Route 50 throughout the planning, building and operation of the StoneSpring Medical Campus. We made changes to the StoneSpring plan continuously during the approval process with the county based on the feedback we were receiving from the community. As the StoneSpring development process unfolds, we will continue to seek input from many constituents, in much the same way as we did for Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, a 126-bed facility HCA Virginia opened in June. Our website – http://www.stonespringmedical.com/ -- will feature our ongoing progress and provide opportunities for the community to stay involved in the project."

...only 4 more years!