Specialty hospital debated by council

A proposed development had Bloomington residents and physicians speaking out at Wednesday night's Committee of the Whole meeting. Controversy over 102 acres of land marked for development, including a for-profit specialty hospital, meant a jam-packed City Hall.\nMembers of the Bloomington City Council met not to vote on legislation, but rather to let the two opposing sides, the Planning Department and Bloomington Hospital, present their case to the council concerning the petiton.\nThe land, off West Tapp Road along Indiana State Road 37, is being proposed to be re-zoned into a mixture of office, commercial, industrial and medical buildings.\nCurrently, the land is undeveloped and zoned as a quarry.\nJames Roach, senior zoning planner from the Planning Department said the owner wanted to build on the land that currently isn't serving much of a purpose.\n"The existing zone now is limestone mining, but the owner, Southern Indiana Medical Park, instead would like to develop the land," Roach said.\nThis is the second time the legislation is being discussed by the council. \n"The first project was denied by the council with concerns about the environment issues," Roach said. "But much of the project now meets city plans."\nSince the proposed legislation includes a mixture of zones, the Planning Department said in order to allow the project, it must be established as a Planned Unit Development.\nThe controversy surrounds the medical uses proposed. Employees of Bloomington Hospital raised concerns over the construction of a speciality hospital built on the property. If such a facility was built, employees are concerned it would take away both revenue and ambulance services available through Bloomington Hospital.\nOwen Slaughter, medical director for Bloomington Hospital's Emergency Department, said he is afraid of some parts of the petition.\n"There are currently about 12 uses of the plan, and I don't have a problem with the petition except for the part that concerns creating a for-profit speciality hospital in Bloomington," Slaughter said.\n"Our fear is, as a community, we have limited healthcare resources, and we have constructed a system that allows subsidies for ambulances ... this is not in the best interests of the community."\nJim Roach also pointed out in his presentation to the council that the Bloomington Hospital opposed the petition due to Bloomington Hospital already providing adequate healthcare. The speciality hospital may increase the burden of the Bloomington Hospital to provide indigent care, and it may also have a negative impact on their ability to maintain ambulance services.\nLocal attorney Mike Ellis said Bloomington Hospital lacks proof that the speciality hospital will be harmful.\n"We are proposing to offer patients and doctors healthcare choices that they currently don't have," Ellis said. "What has been missing from the hospital is evidence showing that revenue will be taken from the hospital or ambulance services will be gone."\nCity Council District V Representative David Sabbagh also felt concerns about the hospital should be taken with high regard.\n"I would be concerned about the speciality hospital and the effects of long-term care," Sabbagh said. "Medical care in Bloomington is the major issue, I think we need to look at the effects of Bloomington Hospital revenue, ambulance services and emergency room service as well."\nThe council will vote on the matter at its Feb. 25 or March 3 meeting.