SMITHFIELD – UNC Health Johnston announced Thursday it has won approval from the state to add 12 beds at its hospital in Clayton. In August, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services approved the hospital’s Certificate of Need application for 12 new beds in Smithfield but denied the Clayton application. The health care system appealed the decision.
Tom Williams, CEO and president of UNC Health Johnston, says the health care system reached a settlement after satisfactorily answering the state’s questions.
“We are eager to begin these expansion projects to improve access and much-needed care closer to home for residents of Johnston County and surrounding areas,” he said.
Right away, Williams plans to present financing proposals to the hospital board in October.
“Once we get their approval, we’ll initiate requests for proposals for architects and general contractors to bid on the projects,” he says. “Once they have been selected, we will initiate drawings, planning and permitting.”
If all goes according to plan, Williams says construction for the three-story addition to the Clayton hospital could begin by fall of next year. Once that project is complete, in about two years, renovations will start in Smithfield for the 12 additional beds.
They need more then 12 beds, but 12 beds are better than nothing.
Time to get rid of CON!
I don’t get it… UNC can’t build out both locations at the same time? Why do they need to wait 2 more years to start on Smithfield? (Especially since Smithfield just approved 300? houses sitting right behind the actual HOSPITAL)! And besides that THREE STORY Building for 12 lousy beds per location ?? Thats really ridiculous with all this OVERCROWDING- that is occurring in this county! This CON ruling is just regressive political BS, but UNC is not the be-all and save-all for Johnston County, neither! Folks still can’t get many medicle procedures performed down here in the County- at either hospital! Have to go all the way up to LakeBoone/Rex, etc. And then on top of it all, UNC plays their slimy insurance games left and right with insurance acceptance, (just remember, that fiasco UNC developed to a lot of Medicare Advantage Plans recently)!! When will THE POWERS THAT BE(JOKE) START THINKING ABOUT THE CUSTOMER– US(TAXPAYERS)???!!!