Monday, December 21, 2015
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Supreme Court decision allows Roper St. Francis Healthcare to build in Berkeley County
Roper St. Francis Healthcare will move forward with a new Berkeley County hospital and medical office building following a Friday ruling issued by the South Carolina Supreme Court.
The state’s highest court chose not to review the Appellate Court’s decision. Roper St. Francis Healthcare has defended its position for years that the community can support two hospitals, and the Supreme Court’s ruling effectively ends litigation on this issue.
“We could not have asked for a better way to close out 2015,” said David Dunlap, president and chief executive officer of Roper St. Francis Healthcare. “We filed our request to open a new hospital on Dec. 10, 2008. The need for convenient, quality healthcare was strong at that time, and that need only has grown during the last seven years. We plan to do everything we can to move this project along as quickly as possible.”
Roper St. Francis Healthcare plans to immediately begin design efforts for a hospital and medical office building in the Carnes Crossroads community. Roper St. Francis Healthcare already has land set aside for this project. Site work could begin as early as the end of 2016.
Allen Carroll, regional chief executive officer for Roper St. Francis Healthcare and chief executive officer of Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital in West Ashley, will head up the construction and development efforts. Scott Broome, a seasoned healthcare leader and service line director for oncology at Roper St. Francis Healthcare, has been tapped as the future facility’s chief executive officer.
This Supreme Court decision caps off a significant year of expansion for Roper St. Francis Healthcare, including the opening of an Express Care in Summerville and the creation of Roper St. Francis Health Alliance, the first clinically integrated network (CIN) in the Tri-County area.
“Berkeley County residents want and deserve more healthcare options,” Dunlap said. “After all this time, we are elated to finally have the go-ahead to be able to serve them. Our goal is to be the community’s chosen healthcare partner for innovative, patient-centered care, and we look forward to making that a reality.”