WILMINGTON — Port City Daily continues to count down its most popularly read stories of 2024, as assessed by analytics.
READ MORE: No. 7 Most Read Story of 2024: Novant’s investments in offshore tax havens
The sixth most popular report was published earlier this fall when a former physician started the Cape Fear Five Star Project. Jon Martell pressed on New Hanover County commissioners to hold Novant accountable to its previous “five-star rating,” downgraded by Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to two stars in the last three years.
The CFFSP mission is to push Novant to fulfill its contractual commitment to use reasonable best efforts to position its healthcare in the top 10% of national quality metrics. This is noted in the asset purchase agreement Novant signed when the county commissioners sold the county-owned New Hanover Regional Medical Center in 2020.
At the time of the $1.5-billion sale, the hospital had a five-star rating. It was downgraded in 2021 and has maintained two-stars since. CMS reviews are considered an authoritative source for ranking 2,847 hospitals nationwide on metrics including safety, mortality, and timeliness of care.
Martell requested at a commissioner meeting in mid-November that Novant present a comprehensive public report within three months of the resolution’s adoption. The resolution included:
- A five year strategic plan detailing how Novant NHRMC will achieve its goal of a top 10% ranking
- An accounting of resources used to meet this specific target, including personnel, assets, and consultants
- Measurable milestones over the next five years demonstrating its progress
- A semi-annual public update on its progress until Novant NHRMC achieves a four-star rating
A Novant spokesperson said the hospital network had no comment on Martell’s proposed resolution at this time. They shared Novant’s 2024 playbook to demonstrate how the healthcare network plans to improve its care.
Commissioners did not respond to Martell’s proposal at the meeting, nor to PCD’s request for comment on the project.
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