Rural North Carolina hospital to join Duke LifePoint Healthcare
Person Memorial Hospital, a rural North Carolina hospital, will be the second hospital to affiliate with Duke LifePoint Healthcare, a joint venture between the Duke University Health System and LifePoint Hospitals.
Officials at the community-owned not-for-profit hospital have signed a memorandum of understanding that allows PMH and Duke LifePoint to move toward the partnership through a proposed acquisition. Once this process is complete, the parties would enter into a definitive agreement.
“Over the last several months, our board has been working to develop a strategic plan that will effectively strengthen our hospital for the future,” said Robby Jones, chairman of PMH's board of trustees. “As we explored our options to secure the future of the hospital to continue to serve the people of Person County, it became clear that an affiliation would be critical to the future of our hospital. As we explored our partnering options, Duke LifePoint emerged as a great fit for our hospital."
"Duke LifePoint shares our commitment to our employees and medical staff, to quality healthcare and clinical operations and to the community," he added. "We look forward to examining this proposed partnership further in the weeks to come.”
Duke LifePoint was formed last year by the Duke University Health System and LifePoint Hospitals to strengthen and improve healthcare delivery throughout North Carolina and the surrounding regions by building a network of community hospitals. PMH follows Maria Parham Medical Center in Henderson in joining the network.
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“Duke has had a management relationship with Person Memorial for 13 years, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to expand this relationship through Duke LifePoint,” said William J. Fulkerson Jr., MD, executive vice president of the Duke University Health System.
As part of the Duke LifePoint system, PMH will have access to clinical, operational and financial resources to help meet the healthcare needs of its community, provide new opportunities for employees, recruit new physicians to the community and invest in new technology and facility enhancements.
A local board of trustees and physician advisory council will be established to ensure local involvement and governance of the hospital. Proceeds from the proposed transaction could be used to create a community foundation that would support local non-profit organizations.
The due diligence process is expected to take approximately 60 to 90 days and will involve meetings with PMH employees and medical staff as well as members of the community. Prior to completion of the proposed partnership, the transaction would require the review and approval of North Carolina's attorney general.
