Letter to the Editor: Many Holes in Inova's Ad

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Sunday, June 22, 2008

I feel I must again respond to one of the ads Inova Loudoun Hospital has run in its fight against additional health care for Loudoun County. The smell emanating from these ads can no longer be masked by my can of Glade air freshener.

In the ad in the June 15 Loudoun Extra, Inova says of HCA, "They demonize Inova Loudoun Hospital." There have been many ads and public statements by Inova demonizing HCA, but I challenge Inova to state when and where HCA "demonized" Inova Loudoun.

The ad also says that HCA officials "vilify the Board of Supervisors ..." Show us when and where, please.

The Inova ad then calls into question whether "competition raises the bar." Let's look at that claim. When HCA first proposed to build the Broadlands Regional Medical Center, some of the services it was offering to bring to the county were not offered by Inova Loudoun, including cardiac catheterization and pediatric emergency care. Those services are now available at Inova Loudoun. Just the threat of competition has already raised the bar.

The ad includes a chart on hospital charges in the Richmond area, implying that competition in Loudoun will raise prices. How ignorant does Inova think we are? As many readers may know, the Federal Trade Commission has stepped in and blocked Inova's takeover of Prince William Hospital. Why? Because lack of competition will lead to higher prices for consumers.

INTERNET ENHANCED

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The source for the Inova chart is the 2006 Virginia Health Information. I decided to look at the 2007 Virginia Health Information and at Northern Virginia, not Richmond.

Here are some highlights:

HCA's Reston Hospital Center has an operating profit margin of 2.57 percent. Inova Loudoun has an 11.4 percent profit margin, and Inova Fair Oaks is even higher, at 11.71 percent.
Looking at charity care as a percentage of total expenses, the charity-care figure is 8.83 percent for Reston Hospital, 7.55 percent for Inova Loudoun and 5.23 percent for Inova Fair Oaks.
The average amount collected per admission is $8,492 at Reston Hospital and $9,136 at Inova Loudoun.
So, the nearest Inova hospitals have significantly higher profit margins, charge more money and provide less charity care than does HCA.

As Arte Johnson of "Laugh-In" fame so aptly stated: "Verrrrry interesting!"

Cliff Keirce, Broadlands

Tagged: Letter to the Editor

Comments:

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Cliff, funny letter, but you aren't doing too well with the exclusivity in publication requirement at this paper. This is the second time in a few months you've duplicated your offering, and the Post always asks if the letter is specific to them.

http://leesburg2day.com/articles/2008/06...

So much for the "honor system", eh?

Posted by BarbaraMunsey (anonymous) on June 22, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The Post should take note of "letters to the editor" that have been posted in other publications (http://leesburg2day.com/articles/2008/06...) - this damages the integrity of what would otherwise be considered credible letters. Also, when the person writing the letter does not identify who they REALLY represent, it is not very honorable. If you are the head of an association that has a vested interest in the approval of an HCA hospital, please state that in the beginning of your letter.

Posted by scott.simmons (anonymous) on June 22, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

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