Health care

http://forwm.com/2009/08/the-hubble-ultra-deep-field-in-3d/
Representatives of , ­say the construction is necessar to meet growing patient demand and will offer a cheapedr alternative to emergency room or inpatient But critics see the expected surge in new buildings and equipmenyt as amedical “arms race” that will driv e up costs. None of the North Shore project — which will all be online by next summer requiredthe state’s Determination of Need approvall process. But the surge raised a red prompting legislators this year to pass a law reassertinyg state oversight for hospital capital spending on outpatienty construction projectsworth $25 million or more.
“The , if they couled turn back the clock three or four probably would not have allowed the kind of expansiomngoing on,” said Robert Fanning, former CEO of NHS, the Beverly-basedf hospital group whose new outpatienty facility will compete with Lahey and “It may be good for health care in the Northj Shore (in the short but it is goinv to end up being very expensive at the end of the Paul Dreyer, director of the Departmenft of Public Health’s , which handles the oversigh t process, said he’s aware of the North Shore situation and has heard arguments on both “How those play out will depenr on the facts,” he said.
Partners is buildingg the $140 million Massachusetts General/ in Danvers on Endicot t Street. Set to open next summer, the 122,00-square-foot working with Partners’ in Salem and Lynn, will housr both expanded general outpatient services and a biggeercancer center. An adjoining 80,000-square-foo t medical office building is also part ofthe plan. NSMC Presidentg Robert Norton said the construction is necessaryy because the biggest growth in hospital care is on the outpatient Norton also insists he sees plenty of roomfor “There’s been plenty of business to go around in the Nortj Shore for many, many years and as long as I can see in the he said.
The center, built in a prime location easily seen from Route 128, is just across town from Northeast Healty System’s $30 million ambulatory care facility on Maple Street in Northeast Health System CEO Stephenn Laverty would not comment. will give Partners easy access to patientds who might have avoided trips along oftenm clogged roads aroundthe system’s Salem and Lynn operations. Lahey Clinifc is well under way witha $50 million expansion at its , in an old bank buildiny at Northshore Mall. Easily seen from Route 128, the projectt will add another 65,000 square to be ready by next May. Lahey seniodr vice president Robert Schneider acknowledgescompetitivd risks.
But he said Lahey’ main focus is accommodating existing demand. Whatever the rapid health care constructio ultimately risks driving up saidJarrett Barrios, who runs the . “Uncheckesd expansion of health care servicee results in an increased number of unnecessary particularly in thespecialty fields,” he That is a worry echoed by “If more technology will be used more (often),” Fanning said, “thde end result for the business community on the Nortj Shore is increased health care premiums.
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