WILMINGTON — Protestors gathered outside the New Hanover County Government Center to voice their opposition to a potential sale of the county-owned healthcare system.
Nearly two hours after they first gathered, commissioners approved an “Intent to Sell” New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC) and its assets valued at least $1 billion.
The rally was held to “give voice to the many who live in Southeastern NC who are deeply concerned about losing local control of the hospital,” according to the rally’s organizer, Dr. L. Kyle Horton.
READ MORE: Commissioners approve ‘Intent to Sell’ New Hanover Regional Medical Center despite opposition
“The people have spoken that this is our hospital,” Horton said. “We are incredibly proud of the success of NHRMC, and want to retain local control if at all possible. We are gathering to collectively ask that our New Hanover County Commissioners respect the will of the people, and much of the medical community, that this process be delayed, deliberate, accountable, and transparent.”
Michael Smith, a retired nurse anesthetist with more than 40 years of clinical experience (pictured above), recalled his own experience moving from a 10-year career at NHRMC to stops at five different hospitals owned by a large, for-profit healthcare system. During this time he said he encountered preferred vendor lists of inferior products and a general staffing philosophy that left employees overworked.
He then worked for a small private practice in Wilmington, which was soon bought out by the same large healthcare system.
“And within two years, they really ruined our department, and the philosophy and fellowship we always held there,” Smith said.
Other professionals and advocates at the rally offered their own perspectives, varying from a mistrust in the county’s approach to how the potential sale could impact Wilmington’s black community.
Alex Hall: “My dad was on the county commission back in the sixties and early seventies when they passed the bond issue to build the hospital. I think it’s an absolute disgrace, the way they’ve gone about this. Why would a CEO making almost $900,000 a year want to sell the business he works for, unless there’s some kind of sweetheart deal somewhere for him? Because it makes no sense that he’s out there pushing to sell this hospital as hard as he’s doing.”
Lynn Harris: “I think that unfortunately, it’s probably already a done deal. There is something very shady going on. What it is we may not know for a long time, but we need to be on the streets and let the county commissioners know that we are unhappy with their decisions and that they will be very short-term county commissioners if this continues.”
“To have it announced on July 23, and have a vote which should have been two weeks ago — but between of the hurricane it was postponed — it seems as though they’re trying to hide something.”
Jeff Cohen: “The reason I’m wearing this ‘Stand against racism’ shirt is because our hospital was originally formed via referendum. And they had the choice of making that a segregated or integrated hospital in 1964. They voted to make it an integrated hospital. And to think about what the South was like in 1964, and the fact that they did that gives you a clue as to how important this hospital is to the black community in Wilmington.”
“The sale of this hospital will absolutely unfairly impact that community. And that’s just one of the many reasons that I’m out here opposed to the sale of the hospital.”
Mark Darrough can be reached at [email protected] or (970) 413-3815
