Granville Medical opposed to hospital's move

FRANKLINTON -- A Triangle hospital joined opponents of a controversial proposed move of Franklin County's only hospital from the center of the county to a location only two miles from the border of affluent Wake County.

Officials with Granville Medical Center joined with the town of Louisburg in opposing the bid by Rex Health Care and Franklin Regional Medical Center to move the hospital from Louisburg to Youngsville.

"Granville Health Systems remains in opposition to the relocation," said Yancey Washington, a lawyer representing the hospital. "Our policy is to remain in the center of the county. That role model should apply to Franklin Regional."

Washington's comments came during state regulators' final public hearing on a certificate of need application necessary for the $103.9 million project to go forward. Granville Medical Center was one of three hospitals that were opposed to a similar plan by Franklin Regional that was turned down by the state. WakeMed in Raleigh and Maria Parham Medical Center in Henderson were the other two hospitals to oppose the first plan, but did not express opposition to the current project.

The project has drawn fire from health advocates, Louisburg officials and Franklin County residents who say the Youngsville relocation would move the hospital farther away from the county's poorest and oldest residents while placing it closer to booming Wake County towns such as Wake Forest.

Critics also question the partnership between Rex Healthcare, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the UNC Health Care system, and Health Management Associates of Naples, Fla, the for-profit owner of Franklin Regional. They say the relocation runs counter to UNC's mission to provide health care for all North Carolinians.

However, Rex officials say critics exaggerate the harm of moving the hospital. They also say the project would establish a new urgent care center in Louisburg and a primary care practice in eastern Franklin County. Rex has also pledged to use its good name to help recruit specialists and primary care doctors to Franklin County, where practitioners are in short supply.