HOKE COUNTY – FirstHealth of the Carolinas and Cape Fear Valley Medical Center have reached a settlement agreement over their mutual 2010 Certificate of Need (CON) appeals.
In 2010, FirstHealth was awarded a CON to build an eight-bed hospital in Hoke County. Cape Fear Valley received a CON to build a 41-bed hospital, also in Hoke County. Each hospital appealed the other’s CON approval, which until today had been held up in the appeals process.
“This is great news for the residents of Hoke County,” said David J. Kilarski, CEO of FirstHealth of the Carolinas. “Hoke County desperately needs access to emergency room care and hospital services. We are excited to start building and look forward to bringing FirstHealth’s quality health care services to Hoke County residents.”
The FirstHealth Hoke Community Hospital will house a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week emergency room staffed by Pinehurst-based Moore Regional Hospital physicians. In addition to the emergency beds, the hospital will include eight inpatient beds, an overnight observation unit and one operating room, full laboratory services, state-of-the-art imaging technology and diagnostic cardiology.
The initial hospital will be built to allow for additional expansion. Future plans for the 30-acre medical complex site on Highway 401 include medical office space and other health care-related services and facilities.
“As a longtime resident of Hoke County, I am excited to hear that Hoke will soon have access to local hospital services,” says Julian King, chairman of the FirstHealth Board of Directors. “Building both hospitals will have a great economic impact in Hoke County. I am pleased an agreement has been reached and that both hospitals can move forward with their plans to bring hospital care to Hoke County.”
