City signs Letter of Intent w. SBRMC for freestanding emergency facility

City signs Letter of Intent w. SBRMC for freestanding emergency facility

By John Mullen
Gulf Shores recently signed a letter of intent with Community Health Systems and South Baldwin Regional Medical Center to build a freestanding emergency department on the 11 acres adjacent to Jack Edwards Airport.
“We are in the process of working on the lease right now but the LOI its been signed,” Mayor Robert Craft said. “Their intent is to apply for a certificate of need by the first of August. So, we’re getting close. That will give us the ability to stop ambulances in Gulf Shores and not try to get critical injuries, critical situations all the way to the north side of Foley. That is moving forward and we’re very hopeful that we can get finalized and get done. There’s a lot to do in addition to that but we do have a letter of intent, we do have a partner that is determined to do this.”
The hospital must now apply to the State Health Planning and Development Agency to obtain a certificate of need before construction can start. That process takes about four to six months, City Administrator Steve Griffin said.