Health

Court Ruling Favors 2 Hospitals In Berkeley Co., Trident Hospital Considers Legal Action

justice scale & gavelBERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.–Today, the South Carolina Court of Appeals ruled that Roper St. Francis can move forward with plans to build a 50-bed hospital in Berkeley County.

For the last six years, Roper’s acute-care hospital at Carnes Crossroads in Goose Creek has been in legal limbo after Trident Hospital argued that the facility would interfere with their hospital in Moncks Corner.

Trident Health CEO Todd Gallati issued a statement regarding this morning’s court ruling by the South Carolina Court of Appeals which favors two Certificate of Need applications representing both Trident Health and Roper St. Francis.

According to Gallati, the applications seek to build identical 50-bed hospitals 11 miles apart on Hwy 17A in Berkeley County.

“We have reviewed the decision but respectively disagree and are currently considering our legal options, which may include an appeal,” he said. “We are seeing many smaller hospitals in rural areas throughout the nation struggling, and we don’t think that two small hospitals in Berkeley County, one of which will be located just miles from Trident, can thrive and serve our community for the long term, better than one hospital.”

David Dunlap, president and chief executive officer for Roper St. Francis, stated that today’s ruling makes it clear that a new Roper St. Francis facility in Berkeley County would be more convenient for  patients who must travel to downtown Roper Hospital.

“The beds in the new Berkeley County hospital would be transferred from Roper Hospital to better serve our patients,” stated Dunlap.

Trident Health’s proposed hospital, Berkeley Regional Medical Center, will provide a full-service, 50-bed, acute-care hospital to be built in Moncks Corner at the location of the existing emergency facility.

Officials say the new hospital will bring full-service medical care to residents of northern Berkeley County offering acute care, intensive care, emergency care and general surgery.

Nikki Gaskins Campbell
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