Why Certificate of Need Application Should be Granted

Recently our company, Imaging Associates of Providence, submitted a court-ordered application for a Certificate of Need, a state permit to continue operations of our radiology offices in South Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley.

Part of the application process included a public hearing, and I’d like to share a summary of my testimony here with you today and why I believe the State’s decision will affect not only our company and our employees but also the community at large.

First of all, I’d like to personally thank all the patients, physicians and community members who spoke up in support of Imaging Associates. We were touched by patients who shared some very personal stories of how we’ve made a difference in their lives. We also heard from a variety of physicians who each gave concrete examples of how having a choice in imaging providers helps them better serve their patients. 

I was amazed that so many of you, even patients who are quite ill with much better ways to spend your time, would take the time to craft a letter of support or show up at a public hearing. To me, that alone speaks volumes as to why our application should be approved.

In my testimony, I challenged the State to review our application from a patient’s and referring physician’s point of view. After all, the decision will affect them the most. At stake here is patient access to health care services, the timeliness of patient diagnosis and treatment, and referring physicians’ ability to deliver health care. 

The application asked us to outline how Imaging Associates’ services are different than what’s available already and we reiterated that we offer significant differences in equipment — including the only 3T MRI in Alaska, the only high field open bore MRI that can accommodate the large patients without sacrificing image quality, and CT scans with CareDose to reduce radiation exposure  — and timeliness of service.

This “timeliness” may seem like an intangible, but getting a same-day appointment instead of waiting several weeks for a diagnostic test can and does lead to early diagnosis and treatment. For our patients in the Valley and outlying areas whose insurance lists Providence as their preferred provider, not having to drive to Anchorage for every test is a significant time and cost savings.

Each of these unique aspects enhances the lives of our patients and the ability of referring physicians to deliver high quality health care.

I truly believe, as I’m sure all folks without financial ties to Mat-Su Regional Hospital would agree, that patients deserve to have a choice in health care providers.

If patients need an MRI today and the hospital is booked, they shouldn’t have to wait and thus delay their diagnosis and treatment.

If large patients can’t fit into a traditional MRI, they should have a high field short bore option without sacrificing the clarity with a less powerful open bore machine.

If patients need a series of CT scans over the course of their chemotherapy, they should be able to choose a machine that offers CareDose for less radiation exposure.

For CT or MRI patients with compromised immune systems, who need to limit exposure to germs, going to a hospital can be a serious health risk. These patients need a non-hospital alternative. 

As we’ve already encountered in nearly two years in operation, there are many more such situations and real life stories where Imaging Associates has been able to make a difference. 

Along with our patients and referring physicians whose lives and practices will be affected by the decision, I am asking the State to approve our application because Alaskans deserve better health care choices. Approve it because as a Providence Partner, we offer high quality health care choices to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.  Approve it because our technology can and does make a difference in patients’ lives. Approve it because it’s the right thing to do.