Nine healthcare organizations have signed non-disclosure agreements with New Hanover County – meaning they are serious about exploring the purchase of, or merger with the New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Last night, the Partnership Advisory Group – PAG – held its 8th public meeting on the topic.
Atrium Health. UNC Health Care. Novant. Duke Health. These are among the healthcare systems expected to respond to the county's Request For Proposals regarding the Medical Center's future.
At last night’s meeting, Partnership Advisory Group members discussed another possibility--the possibility of the hospital remaining independent. They considered issues of governance, the challenge of raising capital, and investment opportunities.
PAG co-chair Barb Biehner says the group doesn’t expect responses to the RFP from outside organizations until mid-March.
“They have a lot of work to do. I mean our proposal – RFP - is 42 pages long. Their answer, depending on how many options they give us, could be two to three to four to five times. At least the ones I've always seen. I don't think we'll get much before the deadline.”
The deadline for responses is March 16. Organizations that have decided not to pursue a possible merger or sale include Johns Hopkins Medicine, Kaiser Permanente, Intermountain Healthcare and the Mayo Clinic. The group meets again on February 20. Vince Winkel, WHQR News.