Barton Health/ Cleveland Clinic, TRPA and Douglas County Provide Misleading Comments That Are Covered By The Press
We are finding it very difficult to share the true story with the public. Below is a list of all the articles written about Barton and the proposed hospital over the past six months. As you’ll see, both sides of the story are not being fully covered. Douglas County, TRPA, and Barton are allowed to make misleading statements without being challenged. Reporters need to be asking more questions to ensure all information is properly conveyed.
This decision will have a significant impact on the entire South Lake Area. Someone needs to step up, do the necessary work, and protect the public from Barton Health/Cleveland Clinic, TRPA, and Douglas County.
Here is a link to the full story of how Barton Health put us all in this situation.
Here is a link to additional articles about the Barton project
2/5/25 Record Courier- Storm floods Stateline hospital site
TRPA Says...
“Temporary erosion controls are not installed, and areas where these have been installed are not installed properly or functioning correctly, resulting in a discharge from the site,” Code Compliance Manager Steve Sweet wrote.
“Indirect discharge to the water of Lake Tahoe occurred from inadequate best management practices and from the site not being properly stabilized,” Sweet wrote.
Sweet said that plan wasn’t submitted until Jan. 28 and didn’t allow enough time to implement it, resulting in more sediment discharge on Friday and Saturday.
Befu / Barton Health/ Cleveland Clinic Says...
Public Information Officer Mindi Befu said the hospital has been working with the agency since December on a plan for the site to prevent runoff from going into Lake Tahoe.
“Barton did not complete the enhancements within enough time to be as effective as needed prior to the atmospheric river weather event beginning at the end of last week,” she said.
“A weather event of this size creates challenges around the basin,” Befu said. “Extraordinary volumes of rain added to excessive stormwater entering the site. Barton engaged engineers and contractors under guidance from the TRPA to expedite enhanced stormwater management.”
“Barton has a long-standing commitment as a good steward of Lake Tahoe. Protecting Lake Tahoe and the surrounding environment remains a priority,” Befu said. “Barton recognizes the important role best management practices have in protecting Lake Tahoe and is committed to meeting these requirements.”
Facts Say...
Mindi, TRPA, and Douglas County were formally made aware of flooding from the site as early as September 2024. The BMP work Barton completed failed every time we had just 1/4" of rain this fall and winter. Her comments suggest that the most recent issues were due to an extraordinary volume of rain, using the "atmospheric river" as an excuse. The problem is that the BMPs failed multiple times over the past five months with as little as 1/4" of rain. The major failure on the first day of last week’s storm (1/31/25) caused flooding on Laura Dr. with only 0.9 inches of rain. See pictures
TRPA Cease and Desist Letter to Barton and their Engineer- TRPA staff met with R.O. Anderson representatives in September 2024 and expressed concerns with winterization and stabilization on the site. TRPA asked for a plan to infiltrate more water into the large existing basin and received pushback. No additional steps were taken and no plan was submitted.
No links to www.bartonstayinca.com or any mention of the group opposing the information presented by Barton, Douglas County, and the TRPA.
2/4/25 My News 4- Barton Memorial Hospital plans move to Nevada amid seismic standards
Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe is planning to relocate due to its aging infrastructure and California's stringent earthquake building requirements. The state mandates that buildings providing acute care must be fully operational following an earthquake by 2030.
TRPA Says...
This week TRPA issued a cease and desist letter relating to Barton's new site after a storm caused erosion at the new proposed location. "The permit required erosion controls to be installed and maintained to protect water quality in the Tahoe Basin," said TRPA spokesman Jeff Cowen.
Befu/ Barton Health/ Cleveland Clinic Says...
"Barton did not complete the enhancements within enough time to be as effective as needed prior to the Atmospheric River weather event beginning at the end of last week," Barton's spokesperson Mindi Befu said.
She said Immediate action taken to minimize stormwater runoff from the site during the storm cycle included:
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Installation of a pump system to capture stormwater in two retention ponds.
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Handwork on trenches to assist in the flow of stormwater to the retention ponds.
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Additional layers of straw rolls added to absorb stormwater.
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A dual layer of filter fence installed.
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Contractors monitoring the site daily
Facts say...
The author mentions that Barton is planning to relocate due to an inability to meet stringent earthquake building requirements. However, Barton could easily retrofit or replace the single-story building that currently fails to meet seismic standards. The organization has had 20 years to bring the building into compliance but has chosen not to do so.
Mindi states that the necessary site enhancements could not be completed in time to be effective against the Atmospheric River weather event. She also claims that Barton did not have sufficient time to implement the BMP recommendations. However, she was first made aware of the BMP issues and failures as early as September 2024. The major failure on the first day of last week’s storm (1/31/25) caused flooding on Laura Dr. with only 0.9 inches of rain. See pictures
TRPA Cease and Desist Letter to Barton and their Engineer- TRPA staff met with R.O. Anderson representatives in September 2024 and expressed concerns with winterization and stabilization on the site. TRPA asked for a plan to infiltrate more water into the large existing basin and received pushback. No additional steps were taken and no plan was submitted.
No links to www.bartonstayinca.com or any mention of the group opposing the information presented by Barton, Douglas County, and the TRPA.
2/4/25 Tahoe Daily Tribune- TRPA sends Barton a cease-and-desist during weekend storm
Though Barton filed their temporary BMPs in July, Jeff Cowen, TRPA’s public information officer, said their contractors consistently noticed an issue with their BMPs at the bottom of the site, where stormwater runoff was identified.
In the letter, TRPA code compliance manager Steve Sweet said they inspected the property four times—thrice in the last two months—and found violations where erosion controls were not installed properly or functioning correctly, unstable areas, unmaintained or uninstalled BMPs, and indirect discharge to Lake Tahoe as a result of these violations.
Sweet stated that TRPA staff had met with R.O. Anderson representatives back in September of last year, expressing concerns with winterization and stabilization, along with asking for a plan to infiltrate water into the existing basin on site—no plan was made to fix these issues. In mid-January, TRPA staff met again with R.O. Anderson representatives and Barton representatives, and Barton committed to install additional BMPs to prevent additional discharge.
But the plan wasn’t submitted until nearly two weeks after the meeting, which meant there wasn’t enough time to implement it. Cowen said, “It didn’t seem like work was being done fast enough for the storm.” And indeed, more sediment was discharged during the rains. Barton had received a grading exception to move dirt in the Basin—which normally isn’t allowed between October 15 and May 1, but could not work on the site while rain was falling.
Cowen stated that they felt the letter was an appropriate escalation in the enforcement action chain, since the issues were fairly serious and could have been prevented. He felt that it “solidified TRPA’s position” that things were not acceptable on-site—especially because there had been previously identified issues and engagement from neighbors in Oliver Park, Kahle Drive, and Laura Drive that there were persistent issues. Kahle Drive, which has a high underground water level, will be getting Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) projects this summer, where it will be raised to fix the drainage problems.
Mindi Befu, Barton’s public information officer, said in an email, “Barton has been working with the TRPA since December on an enhanced BMP plan for the proposed hospital project site (165 Highway 50). Barton did not complete the enhancements within enough time to be as effective as needed prior to the Atmospheric River weather event beginning at the end of last week.” She indicated that they took immediate action to minimize the runoff, including installation of a pump system, handwork on trenches, additional layers of straw rolls, installation of a dual layer of filter fence, and daily monitoring of the site through contractors.
Befu stated, “As the storm cycle concludes, Barton will complete implementation of the approved BMP plan, which is designed to direct stormwater runoff to the two retention ponds. Barton will continue to follow TRPA and Douglas County guidance to improve onsite treatment. We remain committed to protecting Lake Tahoe and our surrounding environment.”
TRPA Says
They consistently noticed issues with Barton's BMPs where stormwater was an issue. And they found violations where erosion controls were not installed properly or functioning correctly, unstable areas, unmaintained or uninstalled BMPs, and indirect discharge to Lake Tahoe as a result of these violations.
Sweet stated that TRPA staff had met with R.O. Anderson representatives back in September of last year, expressing concerns with winterization and stabilization, along with asking for a plan to infiltrate water into the existing basin on site—no plan was made to fix these issues. In mid-January, TRPA staff met again with R.O. Anderson representatives and Barton representatives, and Barton committed to install additional BMPs to prevent additional discharge.
Befu/ Barton Health/ Cleveland Clinic Says...
“Barton has been working with the TRPA since December on an enhanced BMP plan for the proposed hospital project site (165 Highway 50). Barton did not complete the enhancements within enough time to be as effective as needed prior to the Atmospheric River weather event beginning at the end of last week.” She indicated that they took immediate action to minimize the runoff, including installation of a pump system, handwork on trenches, additional layers of straw rolls, installation of a dual layer of filter fence, and daily monitoring of the site through contractors.
Facts say...
The TRPA, Barton, and Douglas County were formally notified about the failing BMPs starting in September 2024. However, TRPA waited until February 2025 to serve Barton with a cease-and-desist mandate. The TRPA claims to have met with Barton multiple times and instructed them to make the necessary changes. Despite this, Barton failed to make the changes and did not provide a plan for how they would infiltrate the water. After all of this, TRPA chose not to fine Barton.
Mindi claims that Barton took immediate action, but this is not true. Immediate action would have meant addressing the issue back in September 2024, or in October, November, December, or January. Once again, she states that they did not get things done in time for the Atmospheric River event. The major failure on the first day of last week’s storm (1/31/25) caused flooding on Laura Dr. with only 0.9 inches of rain. See pictures
TRPA Cease and Desist Letter to Barton and their Engineer- TRPA staff met with R.O. Anderson representatives in September 2024 and expressed concerns with winterization and stabilization on the site. TRPA asked for a plan to infiltrate more water into the large existing basin and received pushback. No additional steps were taken and no plan was submitted.
No links to www.bartonstayinca.com or any mention of the group opposing the information presented by Barton, Douglas County, and the TRPA.
2/4/25 Tahoe Daily Tribune- How could ambulance care change with Barton’s hospital move?
The change will impact ambulance transport times from certain locations, shortening some and lengthening others. However, Dr. Daniel Shocket, Barton Health EMS Director and Emergency Department Physician, expects the average times to remain below state averages and the care to continue to meet or exceed standards.
Barton says, according a 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment, emergency services are utilized at a higher rate by residents in the area between the two current hospital campuses (spanning the Tahoe Keys, Al Tahoe, Bijou and Stateline neighborhoods) with the Meyers community utilizing emergency services the least.
According to Wagner, congestion and traffic won’t impact code three transports, which is when an ambulance uses lights and sirens. “They just go down the center lane,” he says, “they get to bypass that traffic.”
Barton’s cites numerous reasons for the hospital replacement, including California’s 2030 seismic requirements, limited space capacity at their current campus, aging infrastructure and the growing medical needs of the community.
Building at the Stateline location will save years and millions of dollars and allow for expanded services, according to the hospital. A new oncology center, broadened cardiovascular services, larger emergency department and expanded operating rooms are on the list of those expanded services. Shockett says this will improve overall emergency care and reduce the need to transport patients to other hospitals.
Additional info- That’s because of the four JPA ambulances consistently staffed, the ambulances at Lake Valley Fire Protection District Station 7, and the area it serves, will become the most impacted distance-wise by the hospital move. The station currently sits 5.4 miles away from Barton Memorial Hospital. The move will make it close to 11 miles away.
One consequence of the increased transport time for Lake Valley’s Keetak ambulance is it will take that ambulance out of service within the Meyers region for a longer period of time while it transports a patient, leaving a void in ambulance care.
The increased distance may also result in the increased use of air ambulances in those areas, especially in critical situations, Chief Stephen says, whose district at times provides mutual aid services to Emerald Bay and North Tahoe, in addition to Kirkwood.
Author says...
Barton’s cites numerous reasons for the hospital replacement, including California’s 2030 seismic requirements, limited space capacity at their current campus, aging infrastructure and the growing medical needs of the community.
Befu/ Barton Health/ Cleveland Clinic Says...
Ambulance average transport times are expected to remain below state averages and the care to continue to meet or exceed standards
According to Wagner, congestion and traffic won’t impact code three transports, which is when an ambulance uses lights and sirens. “They just go down the center lane,” he says, “they get to bypass that traffic
Shockett says this will improve overall emergency care and reduce the need to transport patients to other hospitals.
The increased distance may also result in the increased use of air ambulances in those areas, especially in critical situations, Chief Stephen says, whose district at times provides mutual aid services to Emerald Bay and North Tahoe, in addition to Kirkwood.
Facts say...
Author restates the reasons Barton gave for needing to move and build in Nevada.
1. California’s 2030 seismic requirements
2. limited space capacity at their current campus
3. aging infrastructure
4. growing medical needs of the community.
Barton presents several talking points—refer to the linked source for a detailed rebuttal.
Barton states that ambulance transport times are expected to be below state averages. However, in an emergency, will transport times to Barton's new hospital/ ER increase or decrease? Common sense suggests that if an ambulance has to travel a longer distance through more traffic, transport times will likely increase. Therefore, Barton needs to clearly state that transport times will go up.
It’s suggested that there will be an increase in the use of air ambulances, which raises a concern. Barton has repeatedly stated that they do not expect air ambulance numbers to rise when moving thing to the new hospital in Nevada. This is significant because of the proximity of the helipad to the neighborhood near the new site in Nevada.
The article claims that congestion and traffic won’t impact Code 3 transports. Obviously, traffic congestion slows all vehicles down, including emergency vehicles.
It’s also mentioned that ambulances will be able to move faster through congestion by using the center lane. However, there is no center lane between Lake Parkway intersection and the SR 207 intersection going north from the casinos. In this section, the shoulders are very narrow, with curbs on both sides, leaving no room for cars to pull off to the side.
The article does not address what happens to people who transport themselves to the ER in their own vehicles. Since the majority of South Shore’s population must travel through the casino corridor congestion, this will lengthen the time it takes to get to definitive or emergency care.
What are the ambulance costs from Meyers or Al Tahoe to the proposed new hospital n Nevada?
Will CA resident insurance cover the ambulance cost to NV hospital?
What are the hours for Barton's proposed Dual Campus emergent care at the old hospital site? If it is closed will people need to drive to the hospital in Nevada.
No links to www.bartonstayinca.com or any mention of the group opposing the information presented by Barton, Douglas County, and the TRPA.
2/2/24 South Tahoe Now- TRPA responds to sediment and untreated stormwater at Barton property
Barton Health received a cease-and-desist letter on Saturday regarding its temporary erosion control methods at the planned hospital site after previous methods failed during this week’s rain.
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) issued the order, telling Barton and its contractor to stop methods they were trying to implement during the rain, but to have all work completed by Monday, February 3.
TRPA Says...
“During the recent rain and rain-on-snow events, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) compliance inspectors witnessed sediment and untreated stormwater leaving a vacant property in Stateline, Nev. owned by Barton Health. TRPA inspectors who have been monitoring the site found the temporary erosion controls were failing, causing sediment to run off the site and enter a public stormwater treatment system.
Author says...
Residents in the Oliver Park Neighborhood which is adjacent to the proposed new hospital, have long been saying the control methods being used to contain stormwater runoff were inadequate. They have met with Douglas County and TRPA to discuss the water issues, along with documenting problems with photos and videos and following complaint protocols to get their concerns to the agencies.
Besides the Best Management Practices (BMPs) and water management for a 230,000 sq. ft. building, the neighbors are also concerned with the proposed height of the hospital, the helicopter landing pad on top, the proposed sky bridge over US50 to their other medical offices on the opposite side, and what they say will be a negative impact on the area.
For more on the Oliver Park neighborhood’s months-long fight on the proposed hospital site, visit https://www.bartonstayinca.com/
This is the first time our concerns are detailed in an article along with a link to our website so people can get more information.
2/1/25 South Tahoe Now- Barton receives cease and desist notice at new hospital site
“Barton’s updated BMP plan and timeline to mitigate stormwater runoff at the project site did not meet the approved standards of the TRPA,” said Barton’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations Mindi Befu, “Barton began implementing portions of the updated BMP plan prior to the storm, and will implement the additional measures when possible.”
“On February 1, Barton notified the Douglas County water utility division team to let them know about the stormwater runoff, and Barton engineers visited the site to assess the impact of the stormwater. Barton is taking measures to mitigate the stormwater and then will implement a sustainable BMP plan moving forward,” added Befu. “.”
TRPA was unavailable for comment at the time of this story. Once it is received the story will be updated.
TRPA- not available for comment
Befu/ Barton Health/ Cleveland Clinic Says...
Barton began implementing portions of the updated BMP plan prior to the storm
Barton is committed to remediate this issue and ensure an approved plan is put in place to meet all regulatory requirements
Facts say...
Barton, TRPA, and Douglas County were formally notified of the site problems and failures beginning in September 2024.
TRPA states that they met with Barton multiple times and instructed them to make the necessary changes. However, Barton failed to implement the changes and did not provide a plan for water infiltration.
TRPA Cease and Desist Letter to Barton and their Engineer- TRPA staff met with R.O. Anderson representatives in September 2024 and expressed concerns with winterization and stabilization on the site. TRPA asked for a plan to infiltrate more water into the large existing basin and received pushback. No additional steps were taken and no plan was submitted.
No links to www.bartonstayinca.com or any mention of the group opposing the information presented by Barton, Douglas County, and the TRPA.
According to Jeff Cowen of TRPA, their team has been working diligently on the winterization of the site. They identified some berming and contouring that should be updated before the incoming storms. They also decided new catchment areas on the property would add capacity and prevent stormwater from leaving the property.
“Neighbors adjacent to the project site requested an upgrade to the BMP plan to minimize runoff during storms,” said Mindi Befu, Barton’s director of marketing and public relations. “That plan was recently submitted and approved by the TRPA. Barton moved quickly to have contractors implement the approved upgrades prior to the incoming storm.”
TRPA said all of the work is being monitored and will be watched during the upcoming rain and snow events.
TRPA Says...
Says their team has been working diligently on the winterization of the site.
Befu/ Barton Health/ Cleveland Clinic Says...
Mindi suggests neighbors requested upgrades to the site to minimize runoff.
A plan was submitted and approved by the TRPA.
Barton moved quickly with the approved upgrades
Facts Says...
TRPA, Barton, and Douglas County were all notified of the issues starting in September 2024. It’s hard for TRPA to claim that anyone was working diligently when upgrades were still not completed as of January 31, 2025. Likewise, it's difficult for Barton to assert that they acted quickly on anything.
Barton claims the neighbors requested an upgrade to the BMP plan, but TRPA should have been the regulating authority. TRPA clearly failed.
TRPA Cease and Desist Letter to Barton and their Engineer- TRPA staff met with R.O. Anderson representatives in September 2024 and expressed concerns with winterization and stabilization on the site. TRPA asked for a plan to infiltrate more water into the large existing basin and received pushback. No additional steps were taken and no plan was submitted.
No links to www.bartonstayinca.com or any mention of the group opposing the information presented by Barton, Douglas County, and the TRPA.
12/23/24 South Tahoe Now- Scoping meeting on proposed Barton Hospital facility at Lake Tahoe
Info about Barton's project. Info about scoping meeting. No info provided suggesting there is a large group who opposes this project.
No links to www.bartonstayinca.com or any mention of the group opposing the information presented by Barton, Douglas County, and the TRPA.
12/18/24 South Tahoe Now- Standing-room-only crowd attends Barton scoping meeting at TRPA
This process will weed out the misinformation that is circulating and focus on facts. The public can view the project at https://www.trpa.gov/major-projects/#barton
Info about scoping meeting. Info about Barton project.
Many of the estimated 80-100 people in attendance are concerned about how a hospital on the old grounds of the now torn-down Lakeside Inn will impact the neighborhood.
“We need to hear from the community to effectively modify the plans — these are going to change as we gather more information from the community and from the environmental analysis,” said Barton Director of Community Benefit and Business Development Chris Proctor.
Proctor told the Tribune that he understood residents’ concerns that the current proposal is what will be built. However, he said Barton and the other partners have been making active effort to capture the trends, themes, and concerns that have been brought to them.
“We really want to build a facility that matches our great providers,” said Proctor.
Brueck told the Tahoe Daily Tribune that so far, the biggest feedback has been on the height of the hospital, which is proposed to be 85 feet when the current allowable height is 56 feet. Other points of concern have been water quality and groundwater, the scenic impact, noise pollution, and neighborhood compatibility.
Water quality, wildlife, helipad noise, and scenic quality were among some of the many concerns of those attending last week’s scoping meeting for the new Barton Hospital location.
Author says
Water quality, wildlife, helipad noise, and scenic quality were among some of the many concerns of those attending last week’s scoping meeting for the new Barton Hospital location.
Befu/ Barton Health/ Cleveland Clinic Says...
We need to hear from the community to effectively modify the plans.
We are making active effort to capture the trends, themes, and concerns that have been brought to them.
Facts say...
More information about our concerns is available on our website, and this information has been shared with all local news outlets.
Barton has no intention of modifying its plans despite public input. We have submitted numerous ideas to mitigate the impact, yet Barton has refused to acknowledge any of them. Barton, show us one example of a change you made in response to any of our submissions.
***For a better recap of the scoping meeting see this link
No links to www.bartonstayinca.com or any mention of the group opposing the information presented by Barton, Douglas County, and the TRPA.
12/12/24 Record Courier- Environmental assessment will postpone Barton Health approvals
A series of hearings on a proposal by Barton Health to move its main hospital from South Lake Tahoe to Stateline have been postponed in order to conduct an environmental analysis.
“Barton has been working with experts on the environmental analysis of the project this past year and now has direction from the TRPA on the type of report required to move forward with this project,” Barton Health Public Information Officer Mindi Befu said in a statement to The Record-Courier on Friday. “Once the EA is complete, meetings will be scheduled with the regulatory bodies in furtherance of project approval."
“We are following the requirements and timelines for project approval as required by the regulatory bodies,” Befu said.
"There is a growing need for healthcare services in our community,” Befu said. “Due to aging infrastructure and the need for expanded services, Barton is proposing to relocate and expand the hospital at our Stateline campus.”
"All construction sites must be winterized through the wettest part of the year to protect Lake Tahoe’s famed water clarity," according to the TRPA. "Grading season in the Tahoe Basin runs from May 1 to Oct. 15 every year."
Barton Health CEO Dr. Clint Purvance said the move was required by the age of the main building on its current campus, which has reached the end of its useful life.
The issue is that the land available in Stateline will require the hospital to build up, hence the 85-foot peak. Purvance told planning commissioners on Aug. 13 that a proposed helicopter landing pad could be placed on either side of the structure.
The height of the structure and a variety of other issues have prompted neighbors to argue against approving the move.
TRPA Says...
"All construction sites must be winterized through the wettest part of the year to protect Lake Tahoe’s famed water clarity," according to the TRPA
Befu/ Barton Health/ Cleveland Clinic Says...
"There is a growing need for healthcare services in our community,” Befu said. “Due to aging infrastructure and the need for expanded services, Barton is proposing to relocate and expand the hospital at our Stateline campus.”
Barton Health CEO Dr. Clint Purvance said the move was required by the age of the main building on its current campus, which has reached the end of its useful life.
Facts Say...
TRPA says construction sites must be winterized through wettest part of the year to protect Lake Tahoe. There clearly was no oversight from TRPA and this is why everything failed see link.
Barton presents several talking points—refer to the linked source for a detailed rebuttal.
No links to www.bartonstayinca.com or any mention of the group opposing the information presented by Barton, Douglas County, and the TRPA.
12/11/24 South Tahoe Now- Letter: Chief Medical Officer answers questions on Barton’s move to Nevada
One of the questions I hear most is “Why can’t we just rebuild the hospital where it stands now?”
As many of you know, our hospital was built in phases beginning over 60 years ago. The first building, called BMH1, includes the Skilled Nursing Facility and inpatient support services needed to run the hospital. State contractors determined that BMH1 CANNOT be retrofitted. BMH1 needs to be completely torn down and replaced; unless we build a new hospital at Stateline these services would have to temporarily close or be displaced:
– Skilled Nursing Facility
– Pharmacy
– Lab
– Infusion Center
– EKG
– Sleep Lab
– Food Services
– Speech Therapy
The purpose of our leadership team and the board of directors who oversee us is to ensure the health system meets our region’s growing health needs now as well as years into the future. Every decision is based on what is best to improve healthcare.
As we move forward with building a new hospital, I ask members of our community to consider what we are gaining: new oncology and cardiology services, expanded emergency department and operating rooms, and continued outpatient services on the South Lake Tahoe campus. Replacing a 60-year-old hospital that is not sufficient to meet today’s healthcare needs with a new facility will expand healthcare services and provide state-of-the-art medical care to all members of our community.
Befu/ Barton Health/ Cleveland Clinic Says...
Aging building
Building cannot be retrofitted to meet seismic regulations
Facts say
Barton presents several talking points—refer to the linked source for a detailed rebuttal.
No links to www.bartonstayinca.com or any mention of the group opposing the information presented by Barton, Douglas County, and the TRPA.
Lake Tahoe’s resident population is aging, which correlates to our region’s growing need for healthcare services. By offering services from two campuses, Barton can expand its services, reach more patients, and best meet your health needs now and into the future.
A larger hospital will allow Barton to broaden medical services and add an oncology center and expanded cardiovascular care — much-needed services as regularly found in our triennial Community Health Needs Assessment survey.
And we know how important it is to get this right. That’s why Barton has partnered with Cleveland Clinic, one of the nation’s most respected health systems, to provide invaluable expertise throughout the design and construction of the new hospital. Their guidance will ensure every aspect of the new facility is focused on delivering the highest quality of care in the safest, most efficient way possible.
This dual-campus approach means that more patients will have easier access to the services they need, whether it’s a routine check-up, a specialized treatment, or urgent care, Barton will be there, providing high-quality, compassionate care in our own community.
Befu/ Barton Health/ Cleveland Clinic Says...
Aging population
Cleveland Clinic partnership
Dual Campus
Facts say
Barton presents several talking points—refer to the linked source for a detailed rebuttal.
No links to www.bartonstayinca.com or any mention of the group opposing the information presented by Barton, Douglas County, and the TRPA.
Outpatient services (primary care, specialty care, and ancillary services) are covered in the state in which you live. Some plans cover specific network providers across multiple states, while others have border provisions to cover care across state lines.
Currently, private insurance and some state insurance contracts already have border provisions, which is why some can receive services across state lines today. In the coming years, as the new hospital is constructed, our teams will focus on negotiating border provisions for all contracts including Medi-Cal and California-based HMO insurance plans.
Befu/ Barton Health/ Cleveland Clinic Says...
Currently, private insurance and some state insurance contracts already have border provisions, which is why some can receive services across state lines today
In the coming years, as the new hospital is constructed, our teams will focus on negotiating border provisions for all contracts including Medi-Cal and California-based HMO insurance plans.
Facts say...
Said another way, if you do not have the broader provisions you will not be covered- and right now Barton does not have contracts in place so you will be covered with Medi-Cal and CA based HMO insurance plans at their proposed hospital in NV.
No links to www.bartonstayinca.com or any mention of the group opposing the information presented by Barton, Douglas County, and the TRPA.
The triennial Community Health Needs Assessment identifies areas for health improvement in our community and continues to illustrate the need for more healthcare services like oncology (cancer) and expanded cardiovascular (heart) care, two leading causes of death nationwide.
Offering medical services from two campuses will allow Barton to add services and reach more patients, in addition to expanding our undersized emergency department and operating rooms.
Our current hospital on the South Lake Tahoe campus was originally built in 1963 and expanded in 1995 — its aging infrastructure will no longer meet our community’s health needs and the standards of modern medical care.
It was determined the original portion of the 1960s facility, housing key service lines including the Skilled Nursing Facility, laboratory and infusion services, and the hospital’s pharmacy, cannot meet the requirements. If we were to demolish this portion of the building to rebuild, patient care would be impacted and services would close during construction.
Additionally, the 1990s expansion is not large enough to expand in needed areas including our undersized emergency department and small operating rooms.
Befu/ Barton Health/ Cleveland Clinic Says...
Aging infrastructure, patient care impacted
Facts say
Barton presents several talking points—refer to the linked source for a detailed rebuttal.
No links to www.bartonstayinca.com or any mention of the group opposing the information presented by Barton, Douglas County, and the TRPA.
8/28/25 Record Courier- Barton delays Stateline hospital effort to October
Barton Health CEO Dr. Clint Purvance said the move was required by the age of the main building on its current campus, which has reached the end of its useful life.
The issue is that the land available in Stateline will require the hospital to build up, hence the 85-foot peak. Purvance told planning commissioners on Aug. 13 that a proposed helicopter landing pad could be placed on either side of the structure.
The height of the structure and a variety of other issues have prompted neighbors to argue against approving the building.
Imp info-
Originally scheduled for today, a planning commission hearing has been delayed until Oct. 8 to discuss the issue.
Douglas County commissioners could introduce the ordinance at their mid-October meeting and conduct a hearing in November, Douglas County Planner Kate Moroles-O’Neil said on Monday, but those dates are tentative.
The project must also be approved by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, whose Advisory Planning Commission was to hear the item on Sept. 11, only if it was approved by the county.
According to TRPA.gov, the item would then go to the Regional Plan Implementation Committee of agency’s governing board before going to the governing board on Oct. 23. That timeline was based on the county process being wrapped up by October, something that’s unlikely to happen.
Befu/ Barton Health/ Cleveland Clinic Says...
Barton Health CEO Dr. Clint Purvance said the move was required by the age of the main building on its current campus, which has reached the end of its useful life.
Facts say...
Barton, TRPA and Douglas County had this project greased for fast track approvals see link but we were able to slow things down a bit.
Barton presents several talking points—refer to the linked source for a detailed rebuttal.
No links to www.bartonstayinca.com or any mention of the group opposing the information presented by Barton, Douglas County, and the TRPA.
“Public service land uses are already allowed within the Tahoe-Mixed Use/Town Center zoning district, which includes hospitals, with a Special Use Permit,” the proposal states. “The new proposed Healthcare Subdistrict would specify use of the area for existing and future healthcare uses and supporting services and would allow hospitals by right, eliminating the need for a Special Use Permit.”
At the end of the presentation, Douglas County concluded that they believe these amendments are critical to ensure conformance with the Regional Plan.
The proposal continues, stating that the Kingsbury Commercial Town Center is an area that’s intended to provide a mix of commercial, public service, light industrial, office, and residential uses; and is additionally targeted for redevelopment in a manner that improves environmental conditions, creates a more sustainable and less auto-dependent pattern, and lastly, provides economic opportunities.
Some additional notes that Barton leadership touched on during the meeting included the proposed building height limit for the new healthcare subdistrict buildings is 85′ tall, which will include five stories, as well as an underground level, and space for a helicopter pad on top of the building.
according to David Vogt, local real estate broker for Tahoe Investment Properties and meeting attendee, during this meeting Barton leadership acknowledged that “some people won’t like it.”
No links to www.bartonstayinca.com or any mention of the group opposing the information presented by Barton, Douglas County, and the TRPA.
Link to additional project coverage