For Release: IMMEDIATE
Date: July 10, 2006

Six public hearings set to discuss state’s health facilities needs

RALEIGH – The North Carolina State Health Coordinating Council plans six public hearings this summer to gather public comment on the Proposed 2007 State Medical Facilities Plan.

The hearings will be conducted July 18 through Aug. 1 at locations across the state. The hearings provide the public an opportunity to comment on all aspects of the proposed plan. “Public comment is a critical part of the process that shapes and fine-tunes the State Plan,” said Robert J. Fitzgerald, director of the N.C. Division of Facility Services.

The State Medical Facilities Plan, updated annually, promotes cost-effective approaches and expands medical services to the medically underserved. The plan projects need for acute care hospital beds, operating rooms, other acute care services, inpatient rehabilitation beds, technology services and equipment, nursing care beds, home health agencies, kidney dialysis stations, hospice home care programs and inpatient beds, psychiatric hospitals, substance abuse treatment facilities, adult care home beds and intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded.

People offering comments at the hearings are requested to provide written copies of their comments to staff conducting the hearings. Deadline for comments to be received is 5:30 p.m. Aug. 4. Hearings are from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on each of the following dates:

• Greenville, July 18, Pitt County Office Building, Commissioners Auditorium, 2nd Floor, 1717 W. 5th St.
• Wilmington, July 20, Coastal Area Health Education Center Auditorium, New Hanover Regional Medical Center, 2131 S. 17th St.
• Charlotte, July 25, Carolinas College of Health Sciences, Rankin Education Center Auditorium, 1200 Blythe Blvd.
• Asheville, July 28, Mountain Area Health Education Center, 501 Biltmore Ave., Second Floor, Classroom No. 4.
• Greensboro, July 28, Greensboro Area Health Education Center, Room 0030-MC, Moses Cone Health System, 1200 North Elm St.
• Raleigh, Aug. 1, Jane S. McKimmon Center, corner of Gorman Street and Western Boulevard.

Comments and petitions received during the hearings are considered by the State Health Coordinating Council and, upon incorporation of all changes approved by the Council a final draft of the plan is presented to the governor for his review and approval. With the governor's approval, the State Medical Facilities Plan becomes the official document for health facility and health service planning in North Carolina for the specified calendar year.

The Proposed 2007 State Medical Facilities Plan is available online at:
http://facility-services.state.nc.us/plan2007/discplan.shtml.

Those who wish to review or purchase the Proposed 2007 Plan or who want information about the plan or the series of public hearings may also call 919-855-3865, or write to:

Medical Facilities Planning Section
Division of Facility Services
2714 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2714

Inquiries may be made to the same address about comments or petitions received regarding the Proposed Plan. In addition, copies of the Proposed Plan will be made available to all Area Health Education Centers and to all regional Councils of Government.

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