NASHVILLE — A state agency today narrowly approved plans by Memorial Health Care System to locate an outpatient satellite imaging center in Ooltewah.
Health Services and Development Agency members voted 4-3 in favor of the $14.33 million project, which allows Memorial to move an existing center from 1949 Gunbarrel Road in Chattanooga to 6400 Mountain View Road in Ooltewah. Approval allows Memorial to purchase and operate a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit.
Memorial officials argued the new facility is needed to serve a fast-growing part of Hamilton County and cited additional growth they say will be spurred by Volkswagen’s decision to build a $1 billion auto assembly plant in the area.
The project was opposed by doctors and officials with Diagnostic Radiology Consultants and Plaza Radiology, both in Chattanooga and both MRI operators. Doctors at the two facilities argued there was no need for additional MRIs.
MRIs are a noninvasive medical test that provides detailed images of the body’s interior and help physicians diagnose medical problems.
For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Andy Sher is a Nashville-based staff writer covering Tennessee state government and politics for the Times Free Press. A Washington correspondent from 1999-2005 for the Times Free Press, Andy previously headed up state Capitol coverage for The Chattanooga Times, worked as a state Capitol reporter for The Nashville Banner and was a contributor to The Tennessee Journal, among other publications. Andy worked for 17 years at The Chattanooga Times covering police, health care, county government, ...
Andy,
Thanks for the update, but why is the state involved? Would it not be great if we had too many MRI machines in the Tennessee Valley?
Does the state concern it self with who many restuarants we have or how many hotels?
How is the state limiting competiion is good for its people? Or is this good for the pols in Nashville?
Thank You.
Roger Kincer 305 Belvoir Ave Chattanooga, TN 37411
It seems to me that the reason for the others to object is that there is now more competition. Isn't that what we want ?? Choices ??
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