Eastside Drops Appeal of State's Denial of 10-bed ER Facility in Loganville

Eastside Medical Center LLC has voluntarily withdrawn its appeal to the state's denial of a Certificate of Need to build a proposed 10-bed free-standing ER in Loganville.

The proposal, which was opposed by a grass-roots community effort as well as Clearview Medical in Monroe, was denied preventing the project from moving forward. Eastside Medical subsequently filed an appeal, but papers filed with the state CON Appeal Panel on March 12 confirm that Eastside Medical will no longer pursue the appeal. 

The planned auxiliary ER would have included one trauma room, two secured exam rooms, one isolation room, seven general exam rooms, and one decontamination room along with the the necessary space to support the staff and patients. Eastside cited the need to "improve access" to emergency health services for the Loganville area. However, the state's evaluation found that the project failed to meet the criteria that would provide area residents with services they do not currently have with existing facilities at Eastside Medical in Snellville and Clearview Medical in Monroe. 

In the application for the CON, it was stated that "... Eastside's decision to locate the free standing emergency department in Loganville was protective in nature, designed to improve local access to a vital community service while securing its position as the hospital of choice in a key geographic area and protect its market share." The board found this statement appeared to "address a business goal, rather than a patient or commmunity need for services," and felt that the project would not have a "positive impact on the health care delivery system in the service area.

Before filing the appeal, officials with Eastside Medical Center LLC said they intended to "stay the course." With the voluntary withdrawal of the appeal, it would appear that there is no longer an intention to proceed with the project.

See also:

• Loganville residents join Clearview Regional in Opposing 10-Bed ER
• Eastside Medical Denied Certificate of Need