Legislature approves hospital purchase

by Sarah Shahmoradian / staff writer

Virginia legislature recently approved JMU’s $40 million purchase of Rockingham Memorial Hospital (RMH), which will be used to expand the university’s instructional space.

JMU spokesman Andy Perrine said, "this purchase basically means more classrooms and laboratories, as well as office space for faculty."

"There may also be space devoted to student activity programming," he added. "One thing is for certain — the parking decks [of RMH] will remain as parking decks, and this will help the university meet its growing demand for parking on campus."

Freshman Crystal Philips said she was satisfied with that particular accommodation.

"I know a lot of upperclassmen have issues with parking, and by the time I get to be one myself, more parking will be available because of [the RMH purchase]," Phillips said.

JMU professor David Jaynes said, "with continued increase in JMU student enrollment, we will face an even greater challenge finding space for classrooms, faculty offices and parking."

"It seems that this acquisition could, in part, address some of these needs," he said.

Perrine said, due to the population growth of both Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, the RMH board decided that it needed to move to a new location so that it could "build a facility large and comprehensive enough to accommodate the needs of the community it serves.

"JMU was the only bidder on the property and an agreement was made that the university would purchase the hospital property," he said.

Debora Thompson, associate director of public relations and communication at RMH, said, "It’s a win-win situation for both the hospital and the university and a good move for the community."

"Both JMU and RMH are in similar situations growth-wise," Thompson said. "This is a good opportunity for JMU to expand, and also for us to expand to benefit the needs of our community, which includes JMU students and faculty."

If JMU had not purchased the hospital, most likely it would have ended up "sitting empty and unused, which is usually the case when most hospitals move to new facilities — they struggle to find someone to buy [the hospital]," Thompson said.

As to when the university will actually take ownership of the RMH property, Perrine said it would take another five to six years.

"We already are engaged in planning for the space, but are still years off from knowing exactly how it will used," he said.

Perrine said, "whatever the ultimate result of the planning, Madison is most in need of instructional space and faculty offices, so I am certain that the hospital will contain lots of classrooms, faculty offices and space for student activities."