Pocono News Section

New Hospital in Monroe County?

New Hospital in Monroe County? - Friday, May 30, 2008 at 5:00PM EST

? Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Friday, May 30, 2008 @ 05:00pm EST
SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP - The owners of Westfield Hospital in the Lehigh Valley want to put up a new hospital along route 447 in Smithfield Township.

"I think it would be a great idea, a great asset to the community," said Patricia Miller of Middle Smithfield Township. She told WBRE News there's only one option for her now, that's Pocono Medical Center.

"It's very congested, you know. They do the best they can surely but this area is growing so much that we definitely need a bigger hospital," she said.

The new hospital wouldn't be bigger. But it would be fancier. It would have about 50 beds, all in luxury rooms.

Barry Payne of East Stroudsburg said he doesn't care how fancy the rooms are as long as he can see a doctor quickly. He said he's had to wait hours in the Emergency Room at Pocono Medical Center.

He said, "It's packed. I mean there's a lot of people in there." If it's the one hospital in the area it's gonna be crowded."

The Westfield Hospital promises to get patients into the emergency room within 15 minutes.

While most people who WBRE talked with seemed enthusiastic about the project, some wondered whether 447 could handle any more traffic.

:They might have to put up more lights or something like that," suggested Miller.

If everything goes as planned, the new hospital could be open for business in January of 2010.

Westfield representatives cannot start building until Smithfield Township supervisors approve their plan. It would require a change in zoning rules.

The first public meeting on the project is scheduled for June 11th.