\t\t An aerial photo of Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center in Chesterfield, where the health system is planning an expansion project recently approved by the state. (File photo courtesy Bon Secours)<\/p>\n Three major proposed hospital projects in Chesterfield County \u2013 two to be built from scratch and a third to expand an existing facility \u2013 have gotten the go-ahead from the commonwealth.<\/p>\n State Health Commissioner B. Cameron Webb has approved proposals by competitors VCU Health, Bon Secours and HCA to bring additional hospital beds to Chesterfield.<\/p>\n VCU Health wants to build a 66-bed hospital near the Chesterfield government complex. Bon Secours intends to add 40 acute-care beds to its existing St. Francis Medical Center near Brandermill. HCA wants to construct a 60-bed hospital near Moseley.<\/p>\n Together, the projects are an approximately $726 million investment.\u00a0The VCU Health hospital has an anticipated cost of $306 million. The HCA hospital\u2019s anticipated cost is $260 million. The expansion of St. Francis planned by Bon Secours is expected to cost $160 million.<\/p>\n The projects were pitched by the health systems to capitalize on population growth in Chesterfield, which is one of Virginia\u2019s fastest-growing localities and where much of the Richmond metro region\u2019s population growth is anticipated.<\/p>\n The projects were reviewed under the state\u2019s Certificate of Public Need, or COPN program. Virginia regulates hospitals and other medical facilities through the program, which is intended to ensure a public need for medical facilities that are subject to the review, contain healthcare costs and additionally ensure patient access and the projects\u2019 financial viability.<\/p>\n The state health commissioner\u2019s decision, which was made last Friday, mostly mirrored mostly mirrored Virginia Department of Health staff recommendations issued in the fall<\/a>. While staff recommended the projects proposed by VCU Health and Bon Secours, the HCA proposal was recommended for denial.<\/p>\n This is a breaking news alert. This article will be updated.<\/p>\n Print Article\t\t<\/p>\n Jack joined BizSense in 2020. He covers local government, retail, healthcare and higher education news. He previously reported for the Virginia Gazette and Tidewater Review after graduating from Christopher Newport University. Reach him at jack@richmondbizsense.com<\/a> or 804-554-6545.<\/p>\n \n Editor’s Picks\n <\/p>\n
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About the Author: Jack Jacobs<\/a><\/p>\n
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