NHRMC is working on ways to facilitate medical staff involvement in discussions on how New Hanover County Commissioners move forward with exploring a potential new ownership structure for NHRMC. Members of NHRMC’s Medical Staff met last week to discuss the county’s pending vote on whether to issue a request for proposals. With a quorum attending the meeting (at least 10% of the medical staff), votes were held to ask New Hanover County Commissioners for an opportunity to meet with medical staff members to exchange ideas and ask questions. A majority of the group in attendance also asked commissioners to consider delaying the September 3 vote to allow more time for discussion.
In support of the Medical Staff’s concerns about time for physician involvement in the process, NHRMC leadership is working with the County to ensure physician opinions and priorities are a part of discussions before and after the September 3 vote.
“We appreciate the medical staff’s involvement in discussions around what is best for healthcare in this region,” said NHRMC President and CEO John Gizdic. “Members of the medical staff have helped make NHRMC what it is today and are critical to its future. We support taking the time needed for them to fully explore and debate the pros and cons of different ownership structures. We believe it will be helpful for these discussions to include information from potential partners that would address our specific priorities. To get to a point of better understanding, we would favor commissioners move ahead with the vote on September 3 with a commitment to give our medical community and others ample time and avenues to provide their input in the process and ultimate decision.”