Dear Neighbor,

Thank you for your interest in Lancaster General Health’s North Campus project.

As part of our effort to collaborate with the community on this important initiative, we’ve created a new section on our Web site with information about our vision for new medical services in Northeastern Lancaster County. We invite you to participate in the process as our elected officials evaluate our proposal.

Although detailed project plans have not yet been fully developed, the North Campus project is anchored in three key principles:

• Meeting the healthcare needs of the Northeastern Lancaster County community
• Protecting the environment and preserving the agriculture landscape
• Being a good neighbor to residents in West Earl Township and surrounding communities

What’s the plan?

For more than six years, we have been in dialogue with West Earl Township officials about building new medical facilities on commercially zoned land we own at the intersection of Routes 222 and 322 in Northeastern Lancaster County.

There are several reasons why the North Campus is needed:

• Meeting Patient Demand: The population in Northeastern Lancaster County is expected to grow by more than 10,000 people over the next five years. A larger population means increased demand for healthcare services and, in fact, our own study concludes we need to add 100 hospital beds in Lancaster County now.

• Increasing Patient Access to High-Quality Care: Currently, one in four of our patients live in Northeastern Lancaster County, and a growing number say they’d like to avoid the long drive to our downtown facilities. This is especially true among patients who need to see their doctors on a regular basis, and our senior patients. Our project would provide these residents with easier access to care closer to home, so that they can spend more time with their healthcare provider and less time behind the wheel of their car.

• Investing in Lancaster County’s Economy: Our presence in West Earl Township will also be an investment in the economic success of the region. By bringing a new facility to the community, we will create new jobs, increase local tax revenue available for critical public projects, and spur additional investment in the area.
  

• Remaining Good Neighbors: We’re committed to providing our own infrastructure (water, sewer and road improvements) at no cost to taxpayers. At the same time, we’re focused on preserving open space, farmland and the natural landscape, protecting the local environment, and minimizing disruptions to the way of life for the residents of this community.

What happens next?

We are still quite early in the planning stages. Detailed building plans are under development and will likely be presented to West Earl Township’s Planning Commission and Supervisors in late 2010. Our work will continue the public dialogue we’ve had with West Earl Township leaders since 2003, aimed at meeting their vision for their community.

In addition to local officials, we’ve met with a growing number of citizens, business and community leaders, and encouraged them to be involved in this process. I’ve been gratified by the outpouring of support we’ve received for our plan and I am confident that, as more of you learn about it, our support will continue to grow.

Please take a few minutes and explore this Web site. The FAQ is a good place to start if you have general questions about our plan. You also should look at the calendar of events to find out when and where the public meetings will be held. Throughout this site, you will see hot buttons that allow you to email us your questions or simply tell us what you think.

Again, thank you for your interest in the North Campus project. I hope you will realize, as so many have already, that this project is about providing increased access to Lancaster General Health’s high-quality care in a part of our county that is growing quickly.