The Georgia Department of Community Health denied Erlanger Health System’s request to establish an ambulatory surgery center in Ringgold.
Erlanger wants to build a $9.8 million surgery center on Battlefield Parkway next to Erlanger South Family Medicine, but state regulations prohibit health care facilities from expanding services into areas where they’re not needed.
Erlanger officials presented their case in a certificate of need, or CON, application filed in November 2017, but reviewers announced Monday they disagree.
“The proposal is not consistent with the considerations, standards and criteria applicable to the issuance of a Certificate of Need,” Rachel King, executive director of the office of health planning, said in a letter addressed to Erlanger.
The decision letter cites “no numerical need” for the project based on population and the presence of multiple outpatient surgical services providers in the area. These facilities include North Georgia Foot and Ankle Surgery Center, Hamilton Ambulatory Surgery Center, The Surgery Center of Rome, Cartersville Medical Center, Hamilton Medical Center, Floyd Medical Center, Redmond Regional Medical Center and CHI Memorial Hospital-Georgia.