Growth defines two decades in health care here

by Melissa Wilson

SBJ Staff

In 1980, Springfieldians had never before heard the term Medical Mile. In 1999, the term is used every day to describe the hospitals, clinics and medical offices that line National Avenue from Sunshine to Republic Road.

The Springfield medical community's massive growth and its migration south toward James River Freeway are the most noticeable physical changes since 1980.

However, because of the introduction of managed care products in the early '90s, the most noticeable internal changes since 1980 have been an expansion in medical services, changes in the relationship between physicians and hospitals, and the launching of insurance products by hospitals, according to Larry Wallis, Cox Health Systems' chief executive officer.

"Up until the '80s, the hospital's role was pretty defined