Administrator Responds To Sunday Editorial

As the spokesperson for Abingdon Health Care Center and as the administrator of its sister facility, Valley Health Care Center, I appreciate your newspaper’s desire to bring the Department of Health’s upcoming review of the proposed nursing facilities in the Abingdon area to your readers’ attention.

However, we believe that a review of the full applications, which will be filed July 1, can determine which better meets the needs of Washington County and the residents of Planning District 3. We believe it is important for your readers to understand several key matters.

Abingdon Health Care Center, like Valley, will be an owner-operated facility with a commitment to the community it serves.

Abingdon Health Care Center is being designed to provide a comprehensive community that meets citizens’ needs by providing a 180-bed nursing and rehabilitation center to be built near the regional cancer center and new Johnston Memorial Hospital.

Its plans also include independent living cottages, independent living apartments and an assisted living center. The planned nursing facility will provide short term rehabilitation and long term living services and a memory care unit. Respite care services will also be provided.

Valley is transferring 60 of its beds to Abingdon Health Care Center so that it can provide these more diverse services. This will benefit Valley area residents because they will gain more assisted living units to serve them on a cost effective basis and have access to these specialized services.

Lastly, our owner affiliated companies, known as CareVirginia and CareOne, have developed, acquired and operated many other senior care facilities. Being a company that develops, owns and operates its facilities sets us apart.

The certificate of public need process and application is a lengthy and complex one designed to provide experts in the Commonwealth and the communities to be served with necessary details to determine which will provide the greatest public good. Once both proposals are made public, we welcome an assessment of which project best meets the needs of the public.

Thank you for your coverage of such an important issue to the community.

Kimberly Ryan Clark
Chilhowie, Va.