Supervisors OK Hospital's Off-Site Helistop

received approval from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to move the facility's helicopter landing spot off of hospital grounds.

The temporary helistop will be located near 1800 Cameron Glen Dr., on a grassy area owned by Inova Health Systems.

Reston Hospital is seeking to move the spot where a helicopter can land because of the construction of a new building on Reston Hospital grounds. Construction on the new building is set to begin soon to be completed in October of 2013.

At that time, the new helistop will be located on top of the new building.

The temporary helistop, located at the southeast quadrant of Town Center Parkway and Cameron Glen, will follow the county's rule of a 200-foot setback from the road. There will be no alterations such as paving or lights.

Hospital representatives said the helistop was used 30 times in 2011. Patients are never transported to Reston Hospital via helicopter. In those 30 instances, they were taken from Reston Hospital to other facilities when they needed additional care.

The hospital representative said he expected use to the temporary helistop to be far less - about 12 or 13 during the year - as some patients will be taken by ground if possible.

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