Dec. 1, 2004 –– The Roy L. Schneider Hospital will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. on Dec. 9 to respond to Health Commissioner Darlene Carty's approval of a Certificate of Need for a proposed ambulatory surgical center on St. Thomas.
A press release, issued by the RLS board Wednesday afternoon, did not offer details. Rodney Miller, RLS chief executive officer, was unavailable for comment over the weekend after Carty issued her decision Friday.
Amos Carty, RLS chief legal counsel, expressed "disappointment" with Carty's decision on Saturday, but said he would defer to Miller any official comment.
While Miller has remained mum this week, he expressed his objections to the center earlier this year. He has expressed fears the center would drain revenue away and "undermine the mission of the hospital." The doctors' group –– Chairman Dr. Byron Biscoe and Drs. Horace Griffith, Sonia Taylor Griffith, Derrick Jones, Catherine Kean and Michael Savage –– argues that the facility will benefit the community and complement the hospital's operations. It has been reported that Savage is no longer a member of the group. However, Biscoe did not answer calls Wednesday regarding the doctor's status.
The commissioner's approval of the certificate came with several conditions under which the center must abide. For a synopsis of Carty's decision, see "Carty Approves Ambulatory Surgical Center".
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