RICHMOND, Va. -- VCU Health System and Bon Secours Richmond Health System have killed plans to build an independent children’s hospital in Richmond. The health systems called the plan to build a free-standing, child-focused hospital "no longer viable." The groups cited budget cuts, increased costs and the "already outdated" independent hospital model as factors in the decision.
"Continuing instability in the health care industry and changes in best practice health care models were key forces driving the decision to focus on collaborative care rather than a freestanding independent children’s hospital facility," VCU and the VCU Health System President Michael Rao said.
In the wake of the announcement, both Rao and Bon Secours Richmond Health System CEO Toni Ardabell pledged to work closely together to provide better health care for Richmond children.
"Collaboration among all providers is the key to advancing children’s health in Richmond," Ardabell said. "We pledge to the parents and children of greater Richmond and Central Virginia that we will always strive for excellence and to grow pediatric specialty care in collaborative ways that will benefit all children and their families."
Rao and Ardabell said the process of planning the independent children’s hospital taught them "a lot about the needs and desires of patients, families, caregivers, community pediatricians and pediatric specialists."
"We heard loud and clear during this process [that it is most important] to collaborate to eliminate barriers to navigation and fragmentation of services, especially in the care of our sickest children," Rao said. "Other examples might be collaborations that involve shared technology, childhood obesity, asthma and violence prevention."
VCU Health System operates VCU Medical Center in downtown Richmond. Bon Secours Richmond operates several facilities including St. Francis Medical Center in Midlothian, St. Mary’s Hospital in Henrico and Memorial Regional Medical Center in Mechanicsville.
