Contentious HCA hospital hearing in Virginia reveals deep divisions

Hundreds of Loudoun County, VA, residents turned out at a public hearing to voice strong opinions about whether to allow HCA Virginia to build a 164-bed hospital in Broadlands. HCA wants to build the 24-hour acute care hospital, Broadlands Regional Medical Center, on a 57.7-acre site. The project has the support of the county Planning Department's staff and a certificate of public need from the state health commissioner, but opponents warned of disturbances from the light, noise, and traffic the proposed hospital would bring.