Q&A: Beds in Bullitt County
Brian Doheny, president and CEO,
announced that MCS is on its
way to becoming Bullitt County’s
inpatient hospital.
Q: What effect does the regulation Gov.
Steve Beshear signed have on Jewish
Hospital Medical Center South (MCS)?
A: The regulation created a new review
category for applicants such as MCS who
would like to convert outpatient centers into
hospitals with inpatient beds. It applies in
counties that don’t have a hospital and that
have at least 60,000 residents.
Q: Can MCS begin hospital
construction immediately?
A: Not immediately. The review is on the
fast track but it still takes time. A public
hearing for the regulation is scheduled for
June 23 in Frankfort, and MCS must file a
formal application by July 2. Since MCS has
already met the criteria to convert into a
60-bed hospital, we do not anticipate any
problems securing state approval on our
application. We expect to receive approval
in October.
Q: Once the state gives approval, how
long will it be before MCS is a hospital?
A: Upon approval, our planning process can
begin. We expect to begin the process in late
fall or early spring.
