New Hanover County and the New Hanover Regional Medical Center established a Partnership Advisory Group, charged with researching opportunities to explore the hospital’s future. The New Hanover Regional Medical Center, which encompasses three hospital campuses, 740 physicians, 855 licensed beds and is the largest employer in the region, and the county have been evaluating the potential sale of the health care provider since July.
The 21-member committee will evaluate the potential sale of the hospital, other partnerships and models, as well as options for the medical center to remain owned by the county. The PAG will develop the Request For Proposal which will be sent out to five health systems. It will then evaluate the proposals received and examine options for maintaining county ownership, then provide recommendations on the next steps to the New Hanover Board of Commissioners and the NHRMC Board of Trustees. Some Wilmington leaders, including city councilors, have pressed to delay any decision until there is much more public discussion.
“Members were selected to represent a diversity of thought and a range of backgrounds,” according to the statement from medical Center. Representatives span various sectors including nonprofits, business, faith, finance, nursing and physicians across different specialties. New Hanover County Manager Chris Coudriet and NHRMC President and CEO John Gizdic were appointed co-chairs.
The Partnership Advisory Council consists of:
Community Members
Virginia Adam
Spence Broadhurst
Evelyn Bryant
Bill Cameron
Robert Campbell
Cedric Dickerson
Jack Fuller
Hannah Gage
Meade Van Pelt
Physicians
Sandra Hall, MD
Chuck Kays, MD
Michael Papagikos, MD
Joseph Pino, MD
Mary Rudyk, MD
Trustees
Barb Biehner
Brian Eckel
Tony McGhee
Jason Thompson
David Williams
Co-chairs
John Gizdic
Chris Coudriet
Full bios on each of the members can be found here.
