UPDATE: The forum scheduled for August 4 has been canceled due to Tropical Storm Isaias.
Members of the Partnership Advisory Group (PAG) will hold a series of Facebook Live Community Forums to continue their efforts to engage the community and answer questions about the proposed partnership between New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC), Novant Health, UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine.
The dates for these community-wide forums are:
Tuesday, August 4: 12-1 pm CANCELED- Tuesday, August 18: 5:30-6:30 pm
- Tuesday, September 1: 12-1 pm
- Tuesday, September 15: 5:30-6:30 pm
All sessions will be streamed live on the county’s Facebook page, and the community will be able to ask questions of the advisory group’s members through the Facebook comments of the live stream. Representatives from Novant Health will also join the PAG members for each forum to answer questions from the community specific to their proposal and their hospital system.
In addition, PAG members and hospital representatives are available to speak to local organizations about the proposed partnership. Anyone interested in scheduling a speaker or speakers for their group can fill out the online form at NHRMCfuture.org/speaker-request.
On July 2, the 21-member PAG unanimously recommended a partnership with Novant Health, UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine after nine months of evaluation. This recommendation was then approved by the NHRMC Board of Trustees on July 7 and the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners on July 13, authorizing the county and NHRMC to execute a letter of intent with Novant Health.
Currently, the three parties are working to develop a legally-binding, definitive agreement that furthers the goals of the healthcare system and the priorities of the community. Over the coming months, the definitive agreement will be evaluated by the Board of Commissioners, NHRMC Board of Trustees, and PAG. A final version of the agreement will then be shared publicly at least 10 days prior to a public hearing and a vote of the Board of Commissioners on whether to execute the agreement, likely in October of this year.
For more information, including the PAG’s exploration process, updated questions and answers, and meeting presentations, visit NHRMCfuture.org.