RED LIGHTS RETURN TO TRINITY ON 280 

BIRMINGHAM, AL (October 15, 2010) – Trinity Medical Center remains committed to improving community access to full-service hospital care and to relocating our operations to the hospital on Highway 280. Though we are greatly disappointed in today’s filing, we will not be intimidated or deterred.  

It is disappointing that our competitors are intentionally delaying progress on this important project, particularly in light of the unanimous approval of the State Certificate of Need Review Board.  The Review Board’s action followed the positive recommendation of a state-appointed Administrative Law Judge, who conducted the longest hearing of its kind in the history of the State of Alabama in arriving at his endorsement.  

Supporters and detractors of Trinity on 280 were afforded two years of due process to consider our relocation plans.  As a result of that process, the project was given the green light by the State of Alabama and the City of Birmingham, by key leaders from the regional medical community and business community, and by thousands of area residents who want this hospital NOW.

Throughout the exhaustive, 24-month process leading to the unanimous approval of our relocation, Trinity Medical Center received dozens of requests for information as part of the Administrative Law Judge review and the CON process. We made every effort to be responsive and meticulously compliant.  To insinuate otherwise is nothing more than a desperate and mean-spirited effort by our competitors to abuse the regulatory process and bring endless delay to this critically important project.

Unfortunately, with this action from our competitors, the lights on top of the hospital on 280 will again turn red and will remain red until Trinity’s competitors withdraw their opposition or are procedurally defeated.  Of even greater consequence, the engineering, design and construction jobs associated with the completion of the hospital will be delayed indefinitely.

We ask our many supporters throughout the region not to be discouraged, but to continue to rally for Trinity on 280.  Join us on Facebook, write letters to our opposition and let your elected officials know you want this project to move forward NOW.

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