CHARLESTON, W.V. (AP) - Fairmont General Hospital officials are likely to appeal a certificate of need granted last week to Highland Hospital for a new psychiatric facility in Clarksburg.
Fairmont General President Robert Marquardt told the Sunday Gazette-Mail his hospital could lose $2.5 million in revenue for the next decade to the competing Highland facility.
Highland wants to renovate the former United Hospital Center at Clarksburg and has won a certificate of need to open a 150-bed facility.
Fairmont has fought the plan for more than a year and has until about Jan. 1 to appeal the Health Care Authority's decision.
Fairmont has a 10-bed psychiatric unit and argues community hospitals meet the region's needs.
Marquardt says he doubts the sincerity of Highland's claim it would collaborate and divert some patients to Fairmont.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
