Danville doctor creates petition to get Sovah Health Danville emergency department renovated

DANVILLE, Va. – From the outside, you likely wouldn't suspect the emergency department at Sovah Health's Danville campus may be in need of renovations.

But according to Dr. Gary Miller's petition, the department hasn't been renovated since 1995 and is "woefully short of beds to accommodate increasing patients, up 8 percent in the last year alone."

The hospital will not allow media inside the emergency department, citing patient confidentiality.

The hospital has released a statement, acknowledging that parts of the hospital, including the emergency department, are aging.

But the statement goes on to say "...aging walls are not representative of the innovative technology within a hospital or the quality care it provides."

The following is the hospital's full statement:

Sovah Health - Danville has been part of our community for over 133 years, caring for generations of families.

This long history means that there are areas of our facility that are older, such as the Emergency Department.

However, aging walls are not representative of the innovative technology within a hospital or the quality care it provides.

Our team is keenly aware of the healthcare needs of our community and is continually evaluating our services to ensure we are meeting those needs.

We work closely with LifePoint Health, which we have been a part of for more than a decade, to invest in the expansion of services and care that will have the greatest impact on the people in our community. 

For example, LifePoint and Sovah Health - Danville have invested more than $11 million in our facility in the last year alone. Some of the improvements include:

·updating the Sovah Cancer Center with a new medical oncology department, electronic health record, upgraded equipment and a new wide-bore CT scanner for more specialized and advanced cancer treatment;

·remodeling our behavioral health unit;

·the addition of our designated Chest Pain Center, a special unit designed to provide specialized care for heart attack patients;

·the restoration of the River District Tower, which houses our Family Medicine Residency Clinic, Sovah Surgical Specialists and our School of Health Professions; and,

·the renovation of Chatham Health & Wellness and the addition of the Sovah Chatham Imaging Center, which extends mammography, ultrasound and x-ray services to Pittsylvania County.
 
As it relates to emergency care, as Danville's only Emergency Department, Sovah Health takes our responsibility for ensuring the health and wellbeing of our community very seriously.

We are physicians, nurses and staff who are proud to provide care and support for our neighbors, friends and families during their greatest time of need, and the quality and service delivered in our Emergency Department is among the best in the country.

We appreciate the support the community has for our hospital, and we assure the community that we will continue to partner with LifePoint evaluating ways to improve our facility as we continue to work to achieve our mission of Making Communities Healthier.

The hospital's parent company, Lifepoint Health, also released a statement, saying in part "For more than a decade, we have worked with the Sovah Health - Danville team to invest in their facility."

The statement goes on to say that the company is aware of the petition and will "evaluate appropriately."

The following is Lifepoint Health's full statement: 

LifePoint Health is honored to be part of the Danville community. For more than a decade, we have worked with the Sovah Health - Danville team to invest in their facility and support their ability to provide high-quality care close to home.  

We are dedicated to continuing to help the hospital expand and enhance its services in a way that best meets the community's needs. 

We are aware of the recent petition regarding the hospital's Emergency Department and will evaluate appropriately. 

Providing high quality care close to home is our top priority, and we are confident in the emergency care and service that the Sovah Health - Danville team is delivering.

It did not, however, mention whether the company would consider making renovating the emergency department a priority.

Dr. Miller's petition specifically calls for the company to "give priority to and give funding for an extensive renovation."