New CEO at Danville hospital opposes Centra plan for medical complex

Opposing Centra’s efforts to build a medical complex in Danville, improving Emergency Department wait times and focusing on quality of care are the top goals of Danville Regional Medical Center’s new CEO, Eric Deaton.

Deaton began his tenure at Danville Regional on Monday, and said he arrived at about 7 a.m. to begin walking through the hospital and meeting physicians and staff who were going off-shift — and with the crew arriving for the next shift.

During a news conference in the afternoon, Deaton said the hospital plans to oppose Centra’s application for a Virginia Certificate of Public Need to open a new medical complex on Piedmont Drive. Centra wants to start an ambulatory surgery center, 24-hour emergency department and medical imaging.

“We will oppose the COPN; we are working through our strategy for that,” Deaton said, adding that more information about their plans could become available in the coming weeks. “We provide the same services that are being proposed in the COPN.”

The state certificates are issued when the State Health Commissioner determines that an area needs additional medical care, and the criteria used looks at long-term needs, the need for enhanced facilities and how accessible they will be to all resident in the area. The economic impact and financial feasibility of the proposed medical facility are also taken into account.

Deaton said another major area he plans to work on is improving wait times in the Emergency Department. He said with only a matter of hours under his belt as the CEO he couldn’t give specifics on how he will accomplish that goal, but noted that he had met with some of the Emergency Department staff Monday morning.

Deaton served as CEO of LifePoint-owned Wythe County Community Hospital for three years before coming to Danville. During his time in Wytheville, Deaton said, he grew the Emergency Department from 7,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet and added services that focused on out-patient services — treating people whose problems were not “as acute” quickly and shortening wait times. He said he was also responsible for an emergency room renovation at a hospital in Georgia before going to Wytheville.

Quality of care is also high on Deaton’s list of priorities, he said. That focus will include making sure the right resources are available for physicians and staff and providing them with the support they need to improve care to their patients.

Deaton is also planning on becoming involved in the community. In Wytheville, he was vice president of the area chamber of commerce, a lay minister at his church and active in a variety of civic groups. He said residents can expect him to continue his community involvement.

“This is my community now,” Deaton said.

Deaton is the fourth full-time CEO at Danville Regional Medical Center since it was sold to LifePoint Hospitals Inc. in 2005. During that time, three interim CEOs also worked at the hospital.

Residents will have an opportunity to meet Deaton from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday during a community reception at Stratford Courtyard Conference Center, 149 Piney Forest Road.