HCA Virginia hospital hearing attracts hundreds

Hundreds of Loudoun County, VA, residents attended a public hearing on the issue of whether HCA Virginia should be allowed to build a 164-bed hospital in Broadlands. More than 100 residents spoke at the nearly five-hour session. Supporters emphasized the 600 jobs and $4 million in annual tax revenue that Broadlands Regional Medical Center is expected to bring and described the county's need for more hospital beds and the benefits of healthcare competition. But opponents said that the project should be rejected because it does not fit the county's health facilities plan.