Public, stakeholders speak out about hospital proposals

DANBURY — Monday night’s public hearing on hospital proposals drew a crowd to the Board of Commissioners meeting.

In addition to members of the public, representatives from two entities vying for a chance to take over Stokes-Reynolds Memorial Hospital as well as public officials voiced their positions at the May 13 meeting.

The Stokes-Reynolds Memorial Board of Trustees (which is also the Stokes County Board of Commissioners) issued a Request for Proposals for a new hospital operator on March 12, the day after the officials passed a resolution stating their intent to do so.

The county received proposals from Novant Health, Stokes Medical Management Group and Tenor Health Partners.

The three proposals are available on the Stokes County website linked from the home page under “county news.”

That full web address for the proposals is https://www.co.stokes.nc.us/news_detail_T1_R71.php.

Novant Health, a private, not-for-profit healthcare system that’s a familiar name in the region, offered a $50 million investment over the first five years, according to their proposal.

“Novant Health is committed to partnering with the county to evaluate and agree on how to deploy these investments to best meet the healthcare needs of Stokes County residents,” the proposal states.

The proposal also states that Novant has the financial strength needed with “revitalizing and modernizing the Danbury campus” and “Expanding the King campus with the development of a Rural Emergency Hospital or free-standing emergency department and a multi-specialty medical office building” at the top of the list of where to direct investments.

Stokes Medical Management Group (SMMG) is a corporation led by CEO Pamela Tillman, who is currently the hospital administrator.

“We confirm that our experience and knowledge of existing structure and operations will catapult us into the future both medically and financially,” the group’s proposal states.

“We have assembled a team with years of experience and the expertise to address all levels of care, market these services and grow a fiscally sound operation.”

The SMMG proposal describes a plan for growth that involves purchasing the various properties from the county and states that private funding sources have been identified along with an intent to pursue grant funding.

“In summation, we have the medical and management expertise, the construction expertise, the needed connections for funding and the heart to make this project successful. We are local and invested in the welfare of Stokes County and surrounding communities.”

Tenor Health Partners is a corporation with a Pasadena, California, address, according to the entity’s proposal.

“The team has extensive experience in operating hospitals in rural areas, urban cities, financially distressed hospitals and critical access hospitals. As outlined in the teams’ profiles, each member worked tirelessly to turn around hospitals’ financial performance and operational efficiencies,” the proposal states, also noting that Stokes-Reynolds would be Tenor’s first hospital and as such no audited financial statements are available.

Tenor’s proposal notes the need for improved electronic medical records at hospital facilities and indicates a willingness to establish a 24 hour emergency room in King.

Public hearing

Representatives from Stokes Medical Management Group who spoke included Tillman, Director of Operations Julie Farmer and Mark Stafford, a Winston-Salem attorney.

“I need you to understand that it’s my heart and life’s work that I carry forward from the work my mother started in the 1970s is for the entire county to have access to health care,” Tillman said. “When it comes to saving our hospital I’m a fighter.”

Tillman referenced her experience as a nurse and administrator, noting that the SMMG proposal includes unique aspects such as daycare and adult daycare.

She also referenced finances.

“With local investors and lending commitments we have been able to budget numbers that would match the numbers that mentioned in the Novant proposal,” Tillman said.

Town of Danbury Mayor Janet Whitt stressed the importance of the Danbury hospital to the town and surrounding communities and noted concerns with Novant’s proposal.

“It appears that that there are many any open-ended sentences that gives leeway for Novant to do whatever they deem fit for our community,” Whitt said, later indicating that the Stokes Medical Management Group’s proposal demonstrated a more clear commitment.

“They know exactly how to operate and manage for what our community needs,” she said.

Whitt said she was not opposed to Novant establishing a hospital in King, but for Danbury, “I want Stokes Medical Management group,” she said. “It’s a win-win situation for all.”

Jennie Hemrick and Olivia Shelton, of Danbury, each shared personal stories highlighting the need for critical access care in the northern area of the county and the high quality of care received at the hospital.

Raymond Brown, of King, voiced his support of Tillman’s group.

“I think they’ll protect the integrity of Stokes-Reynolds,” he said. “I don’t think we need big business, in my opinion same as big government, to run our hospital.”

City of King Mayor Rick McCraw spoke in support of the Novant proposal and said the King City Council was also in favor.

“We’re excited about what they can bring to Danbury, Walnut Cove and King,” McCraw said. “Novant has a long-standing reputation and familiarity with the Triad....We think this will greatly benefit all of Stokes County.”

Alisha Hutchens, a Pinnacle resident, spoke as a Novant representative.

“I can appreciate the need for the entire county to have services and I think that Novant Health has done a really good job laying out and being clear that our proposal extends services for the entire county,” Hutchens said.

“We have a powerful history of improving the quality of care in the communities that we serve and hope to be the preferred choice to revitalize The Stokes-Reynolds Memorial Hospital and transform health care access for the entire community.”

Brad Chandler, who chairs the Board of Commissioners, said after closing the hearing that the Board would not comment on or take action on the proposals, but that the matter would be added to the May 28 meeting agenda.