What's really behind the closing of Pungo Hospital | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This article originally appeared in the Beaufort Observer.

    The Beaufort County Board of Commissioners held a special called meeting on Monday (9-30-13) to discuss the closing of Pungo Hospital in Belhaven. At that meeting I read the following statement:

    It is ironic that most of the same people and commissioners who are now expressing so much concern about Vidant closing the Pungo District Hospital are the same people who were Vidant's cheerleaders when we were trying to decide whether Vidant or Community Health Systems would be best for Beaufort County.

    The closing of Pungo District Hospital proves that Vidant is about perpetuating their business by controlling the Northeastern North Carolina Health market. Studies have shown that costs are always higher and service is always less when there is little or no competition in any service area.

    Had Community Health Systems been selected to come to Washington, there would have been an opportunity for Pungo to have associated with the Beaufort Hospital. That association along with the Community Health System Hospital in Martin County would have created a medical provider group capable of competing with Vidant. That competition would have improved health services and lowered medical costs. Now that Vidant controls health services by owning the Beaufort County hospital as well as almost all doctor's practices in this area they are dictating medical service to our community.

    It is difficult for me to understand how any knowledgeable person or board of hospital directors could have entered into a contract that did not protect the Belhaven area public by requiring a reasonable level of service. Vidant has stated that they never promised to continue hospital service in Belhaven. This may explain why Vidant made the decision to close this hospital so soon after acquiring it. There was no compelling reason for Vidant to make the Pungo Hospital successful by changing the business plan or the level of service. Vidant controls that market area, and all the doctors work for them.
Dr. Herman of Vidant Health addresses what concerns that may be within his power to effect: Above. Belhaven citizen Scott Ellis describe the reality of the Pungo District Hospital to the community: Below.     photos by Stan Deatherage    Click images to expand.
    A fundamental problem with the current health care system in this state today is the lack of accountability of the non-profit corporations that run virtual monopolies that are supported by state laws given favored treatment to these closed organization. The public simply has no way of knowing what is going on because the laws that make much of what goes on secret.

    So here's the resolution adopted by the Board of Commissioners on September 30, 2013.

    WHEREAS the manipulation of those who are ignorant of the business of medicine is easily accomplished because of North Carolina hospital and medical law. Those laws allow non profits to do their business in secret.

    THEREFORE, we resolve that our North Carolina House and Senate elected officials tear away the cloak of secrecy that enables unfair medical business practices by repealing the legislation that allows non profit medical business decisions to be made in back rooms and kept secret from the public. We urge our legislators to require both nonprofit hospitals and medical practices of all kinds be subject to the open meetings and public disclosure laws.

    This resolution is to be sent to all members of the N. C. House and Senate and to all county commission in the state.

    The resolution passed 6-0 with Jerry Langley being absent.

    You can watch the video of the meeting at www.beaufortobserver.net in the article entitled: "BOC tries to close the barn door after the horse is gone...and call it supporting Pungo Hospital"