Chatham County Hospital Authority & Memorial Medical Center, Inc. v. St. Joseph's Hospital, Inc.

St. Joseph’s Hospital applied to the agency for a certificate of need1 to institute a new open heart surgery program at its facility in Savannah. The agency considered the application, took into account the existing services and current needs as demonstrated by the evidence, applied the CSR and statutory standards and Plan and its general rules, and denied the application because in its opinion a need for the proposed additional services had not been demonstrated. The agency issued its lengthy findings and conclusions and notified St. Joseph’s that an appeal could be taken to the State Health…