Oregon Public Broadcasting

The state told the Columbia County Health District  Friday that it's not going to allow a new 12-bed hospital to be built in St. Helens.

Doctor Grant Higginson of the state Office of Community Health agrees there's a need for 14 new beds. But he says, during public hearing he was told repeatedly that the need was for primary care services, not a new hospital.

Grant Higginson: "We don't see how the proposal is going to improve access to primary care services. And in fact, we have some concern that switching to a model where the urgent care center will close and then that will be shifted to emergency departments, is actually going to increase the cost of care and decrease access to needed care in the community."

The Columbia County Health Department now has a chance to address the state's concerns and provide more information.

It has until November 2nd to ask for a new hearing.