ITEM R2

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

(910) 341-7810 | FAX (910)341-5839
TDD (910)341-7873

10/15/2019

City Council
City Hall
Wilmington, North Carolina 28401

Dear Mayor and Councilmembers:

This resolution is being brought to you at the request of members of the Wilmington City Council.

Respectfully submitted,

Sterling B. Cheatham,
City Manager

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Resolution
City Council
City of Wilmington
North Carolina

Introduced By: Sterling B. Cheatham, City Manager Date: 10/15/2019

Resolution Calling For More Public Understanding Of Hospital Issues And Continued
Local Control
LEGISLATIVE INTENT/PURPOSE:

Whereas, the citizens of New Hanover are properly proud of this community’s hospital and its
success and growth during its 52 years of service, and

Whereas, New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC) was created by the citizens of New
Hanover County and has been locally controlled throughout its proud history, and

Whereas, NHRMC grew from a single hospital building to a multi facility regional medical
center, financed predominantly by the judicious use of Hospital Revenue Bond financing, and

Whereas, NHRMC management has reported that the NHRMC will face future challenges
including, the role of local funding, potential legislative actions and changes in national health
policy by government and insurers, and

Whereas, Wilmington and New Hanover County citizens have been consumed by a discussion
of the “intent to sell” resolution and how options beyond a sale and loss of local control will be
considered, and

Whereas, health care financing concerns have been raised including local funding, potential
legislative actions, and changes in national health policy by government and insurers. Many
citizens have asked about these issues and how they factor into the hospital’s future and how
they would apply to any potential new owner and these questions still need to be addressed, and

Whereas, many citizens have asked about these issues and sought to understand how these
issues factor into the hospital’s future and how they would apply to any potential new owner,
and

Whereas, many citizens are concerned about the loss of local control and the connection to
future “headwinds”, and

Whereas, NHRMC has moved aggressively to provide new and improved medical services to
New Hanover and SENC. Many citizens have expressed concern about future growth of new
medical services in our community with a change to outside ownership, and
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Whereas, NHRMC has a stellar record of exploring and creating opportunities to improve the
overall health of the community to avoid the need for hospital services. Many citizens have
expressed concern about the continuation of these good efforts in our community with a change
in hospital control.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

THAT, action by the County Commission on the proposed Request for Proposal be tabled in
order to hold extensive community discussion, including addressing the concerns of community
members who are skeptical of the sale option, over the next year to consider relevant healthcare
issues, healthcare funding, hospital economics, medical advances, antitrust issues, and other
important topics so that the community may have a thorough appreciation of the issues and be
confident that their best interest is paramount.

Be It Further Resolved, that the ongoing discussions include all alternatives beyond a sale
including retaining local control, growing the hospital into a regional network, contracting for
specific services such as negotiating reimbursement rates, and other alternatives that would
allow NHRMC to remain a locally controlled institution.

Adopted at a ________________ meeting

on ____________________ 2019
Bill Saffo, Mayor

ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:

Penelope Spicer-Sidbury, City Clerk City Attorney

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