Close quarters

Culpeper Regional Hospital's MRI facility could have a new permanent home in the near future.

Last month, hospital administrators submitted a $4 million proposal to the Culpeper Town Planning Commission for an "all-equipped" site plan approval to allow its MRI facility to relocate from its cramped temporary trailer into a more spacious and stable setting.

The proposed 5,500-square-foot structure would be built on the south side of the 70-bed hospital on Laurel Street, according to the site-plan records.

During that meeting, the commission staff decided to table the item for 30 days until its Jan. 15 meeting to allow time to evaluate the technical review comments.

Meanwhile, Town Planner John Lassiter supports the project.
"I think it's a great idea," he said, sitting in his downtown office Wednesday morning. "It's something that needs to be done."

In 1969 and 1972, Culpeper Town Council voted to allow the hospital to construct, operate and maintain its existing facilities by granting a conditional-use permit.

In both cases, the only restriction enforced by Town Council was the total number of beds allowed for nursing and extended care, according to the ordinance.

Even though the proposed MRI expansion involves extended care, no extra conditional-use permit will be required, according to the regulation.

The hospital also proposed other site improvements such as sidewalks, landscaping, alterations to the parking lot and pedestrian crosswalks.

In October, a new MRI machine was installed in the narrow trailer.

B.J. Harrington, vice president of the CRH Foundation and community relations, said the trailer is just large enough to fit the machine and a technologist.

"It's not a working space," she added.

Harrington said medical imaging is really taking center stage when it comes to early detection and diagnosis.

"And to have the modalities available, we felt this was an important area to concentrate our energy on," she said.

"I think it's important for the general public to know that imaging is constantly evolving and a new machine today will be replaced by something new in 10 months," Harrington said. "We always strive to have the best equipment to meet the needs of the community."

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or .