By Staff
120-bed hospital proposed for Madison; health council first hurdle
By Thomas Tingle
Record Managing Editor
The CEO of Crestwood Medical Center in Huntsville said plans are under way to build a 120-bed for-profit hospital in Madison.
The next step in making it a reality is approval by the Statewide Health Coordinating Council in Montgomery.
According to Brad Jones, there is a growing need for health care services in Madison. He said that need, combined with the significant population growth of the city and projected growth, indicates that a 120-bed hospital in Madison is needed. He said the new hospital would have little, if any affect on the existing hospitals located in Huntsville, including the Airport Road facility.
"We are looking at property now in the city of Madison, but a specific location has not been announced at this time," Jones said. "The economic impact to the city of Madison will be in the millions of dollars and Madison residents need access to a good community hospital that provides impatient services, surgical services, imaging and diagnostic services, as well as therapy services."
Madison Mayor Jan Wells said bringing a full-service hospital to Madison would be a huge addition to the overall makeup of the city.
Jones said it could cost as much as $60 million to build the hospital and the Statewide Health and Coordinating Council could say yes as early as Aug. 29. Mayor Wells said she and other city representatives have been invited to Montgomery to attend the Aug. 29 meeting to aid in pitching the need for the hospital.
"If the council says yes, then a certificate of need to build the hospital would be submitted," Jones said. "Then, we could move forward and break ground on getting a new hospital built."
Jones said the hospital would be a 120 all-private room facility. Crestwood Medical Center in Huntsville is undergoing a $34 million expansion project now. That hospital has 120 beds.
"We've looked at the growth of western Madison County, especially the city of Madison, and there is a growing need for health care services in this area," Jones said. "We are very excited about this proposal and we hope to move forward in making it a reality for Madison residents."