WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - In a story July 23 about hospitals in Delaware, The Associated Press reported erroneously that a state review committee was hesitant to approve funding for construction of two freestanding emergency departments in southern Delaware. The committee is not responsible for approving funds for such projects, but only with making a recommendation as to whether they are needed.
A corrected version of the story is below:
State approval uncertain for 2 Delaware rural hospital plans
Two Delaware hospital systems want to build emergency rooms in a rural county, but a state review committee is hesitant to approve the plans.
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - Two Delaware hospital systems want to build emergency rooms in a rural county, but a state review committee is hesitant to approve the plans.
The Delaware News Journal reports Bayhealth and Beebe health systems both want emergency departments in Sussex County, just 10 miles (16 kilometers) from each other. They say the area needs emergency services due to high travel times and increasing populations.
Bayhealth says its hospital would cost $16 million, Beebe’s could be up to $23 million.
Last month, a review committee said the state should deny them, as both go against Delaware’s efforts to reduce health care costs and Gov. John Carney’s pledge to limit “unnecessary use of the ER.” Emergency room visits are more expensive than urgent care visits.
Delaware’s Health Resources Board is set to decide in an upcoming vote.
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