http://www.standeatherage.com Thu, 9 Sep 2010 02:02:14 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/149/8/civitas-gives-beaufort-county-government-an-a-for-efficiency.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/149/8/civitas-gives-beaufort-county-government-an-a-for-efficiency.html Say what you will about Beaufort County government, but the numbers are in, and Beaufort County has secured its distinction as one of the most efficient counties in the entire state, according to the Civitas Institute Report Card on County Government Growth.

This distinction is especially notable, in that only 12 of North Carolina’s 100 counties managed to earn an ‘A’ in government growth for the first decade of the 21st Century, by lowering the number of county employees at a time when ... Read More]]> Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:09:14 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/142/8/cost-containment-collects-thoughts-on-collecting-cash.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/142/8/cost-containment-collects-thoughts-on-collecting-cash.html At the onset of yesterday’s Beaufort Regional Health Systems Cost/Containment Committee meeting, the panel approved a contract between the hospital and BCE Technology of Clearwater, Fla., for their Clinical Documentation Improvement Program, which is expected to generate revenue by more-appropriately coding patient charts. The BRHS Authority Board of Commissioners will vote, by telephone, on the contract before it is presented to BCE Technology. The hospital board voted on July 27 to “empowe... Read More]]> Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:09:10 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/134/8/cash-poor-hospital-accepts-county-s-favor-to-buy-its-real-estate.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/134/8/cash-poor-hospital-accepts-county-s-favor-to-buy-its-real-estate.html The hospital and the county shook hands today on a deal that will provide the hospital with the means to pay its debt service to the county and have operating capital—at least for the upcoming fiscal year.

Beaufort County, which currently owns 80 percent of hospital land and buildings, offered to purchase the remaining 20 percent for $4.8 million. The county’s offer was communicated to the hospital board by Beaufort County Manager Paul Spruill at its July 13 meeting. At today’... Read More]]> Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:36:41 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/132/8/hospital-mails-rfp-s-cost-containment-committee-re-emerges.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/132/8/hospital-mails-rfp-s-cost-containment-committee-re-emerges.html For the moment, Beaufort Regional Health System seems to be making some real progress down the much-debated dual-track approach to saving the Washington-based hospital.

On Wednesday of last week, Healthcare Appraisers, Inc. distributed Request For Proposal packets to the 14 organizations which expressed interest in potentially leasing the hospital, according to an e-mail received from BRHS Director of Marketing and Public Relations Pam Shadle on Friday afternoon.

Those 14 organizations are: ... Read More]]> Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:51:25 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/126/8/whose-hospital-is-it-anyway-the-beaufort-regional-health-system.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/126/8/whose-hospital-is-it-anyway-the-beaufort-regional-health-system.html This is the second in a series entitled "Whose hospital is it anyway?" In the first installment we focused on the Beaufort County Medical Center (BCMC), known to most people as "the Hospital." In this installment we focus on the Beaufort County Health System (BRHS).

The simplest, but rather inadequate, way of looking at BRHS is that it is a legal umbrella that includes BCMC and other affiliates associated with the Hospital. But for many, even those closely connected with the... Read More]]> Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:13:53 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/125/8/whose-hospital-is-it-anyway-we-begin-a-series-examining-its-organizational-structure.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/125/8/whose-hospital-is-it-anyway-we-begin-a-series-examining-its-organizational-structure.html This is the first in a series of articles on how the health care system is organized in Beaufort County. Specifically, the Beaufort County Medical Center, or Hospital Association, Inc., the Beaufort County Regional Health System or Authority and the affiliates owned or controlled by either of those entities. We look at how these entities relate to the County of Beaufort. In this first article we focus on the "Hospital."

It has been our experience that when most people, not intimately ... Read More]]> Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:12:23 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/120/8/hospital-board-decides-to-stick-with-acting-ceo-chairman-resigns.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/120/8/hospital-board-decides-to-stick-with-acting-ceo-chairman-resigns.html Publisher's Note: Our reporting ranks have been temporarily depleted, so we absolutely appreciate the asistance of our friends at the Beaufort Observer for allowing us to publish their article here below.

The Beaufort County Health Systems board met Tuesday night (7-13-10) and decided not to employ an outside "interim CEO or management team" but to stick with the existing Acting CEO, Susan Gerard with the assistance, as needed, of the previously hired consultant. They voted to continu... Read More]]> Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:30:32 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/118/8/county-commissioners-hear-a-report-on-the-hospital.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/118/8/county-commissioners-hear-a-report-on-the-hospital.html Richardson challenges Committee of 100 and Buster Humphries to appear and defend their lobbying ad

At the July 12, 2010 County Commissioners meeting one of the items on the agenda was a report on the Beaufort Hospital. The County Commissioners were told by their representative on the Hospital board, Hood Richardson, that the "Request for Proposals" (RFP) being drafted to be sent to potential affiliates to take over management of the hospital are ready for Commissioner and public... Read More]]> Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:20:43 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/116/8/the-hospital-board-is-acting-illegally-and-it-should-stop-doing-so-to-keep-public-support.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/116/8/the-hospital-board-is-acting-illegally-and-it-should-stop-doing-so-to-keep-public-support.html Publisher's Note: Delma Blinson has contibuted another inciteful article about Beaufort County's second largests employer, which is most important to the county and the region - The Beaufort County Medical Center. The Open Meetings law is the most important statute that gives promise to the public that corruption in government will be limited. The county commissioners, and moreover, the school board expect Delma to raise pointed objections should they veer from their respective government body... Read More]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:12:37 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/115/8/sandy-hardy-reveals-his-next-move-to-beaufort-county-now.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/115/8/sandy-hardy-reveals-his-next-move-to-beaufort-county-now.html In an exclusive interview with Beaufort County Now, Beaufort Regional Health System hospital board Chairman Sandy Hardy revealed his plan to attempt to regain an element of trust among board members, following an assault by the new board majority on the integrity of a deal he orchestrated with University Health Systems to manage the hospital as it attempts to find a long-term partner with which to affiliate.

Hardy’s plan is to overtly surrender the fate of hospital management to the po... Read More]]> Thu, 8 Jul 2010 14:10:46 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/114/8/hardy-cancels-meeting-to-un-hire-uhs.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/114/8/hardy-cancels-meeting-to-un-hire-uhs.html An attempt by the hospital board’s new majority to take sweeping action and “cancel the management agreement with University Health Systems” was thwarted by legal minutiae.

One hour before yesterday’s special meeting was to begin, during which the Beaufort Regional Health Systems hospital board would reconsider their plan to hire a University Health Systems management team, the BRHS hospital board Chairman Sandy Hardy, called the meeting off.

Members of the press wa... Read More]]> Thu, 8 Jul 2010 13:40:06 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/113/8/brhs-board-calls-special-meeting-to-un-hire-uhs.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/113/8/brhs-board-calls-special-meeting-to-un-hire-uhs.html University Health Systems should not unpack its suitcase just yet; its stay as management of Beaufort Regional Health Systems could be very temporary.

As of this morning, a BRHS Authority special meeting has been scheduled “to examine, approve, disapprove and/or cancel the management agreement with University Health Systems.” The meeting was called by BRHS trustees Hood Richardson, Alice Mills Sadler and Clifton Gray, three of the four board members who, at Tuesday’s meeting, ... Read More]]> Tue, 6 Jul 2010 11:33:53 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/112/8/here-s-a-look-at-the-financial-condition-of-the-beaufort-health-system.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/112/8/here-s-a-look-at-the-financial-condition-of-the-beaufort-health-system.html Publisher's Note: What would appear to be common sense is becoming quite political in the county of Beaufort, so we have relegated this feature by Delma Blinson to the Bloodless Warfare: Politics category. I think Delma is on to something so I'm sticking with this thread.

What the records show is very enlightening and something much different than what we have been told.

We are being constantly asked by our readers "what's the problem at the hospital." And we have been working on th... Read More]]> Tue, 6 Jul 2010 11:22:38 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/109/8/upper-level-bcmc-employees-to-receive-20-percent-salary-bonuses.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/109/8/upper-level-bcmc-employees-to-receive-20-percent-salary-bonuses.html Beaufort County Medical Center’s Chief Executive Officer Bill Bedsole is one of four upper-level hospital employees who were offered a 20-percent salary bonus to stay aboard, while the hospital tries to bail itself out of financial ruin. Bedsole, who tendered his resignation yesterday, was the first of the four to reject the bonus and abandon ship.

The other three employees offered similar incentives by the BCMC Executive Committee are BCMC Medical Practice Administrator Susan Gerard, BC... Read More]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:09:06 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/108/8/bedsole-resigns-as-ceo-of-beaufort-county-medical-center.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/108/8/bedsole-resigns-as-ceo-of-beaufort-county-medical-center.html As fear over Beaufort County Medical Center's financial situation nears its crescendo, the BCMC Chief Executive Officer Bill Bedsole resigns after nine years as CEO to "pursue other opportunities," according to a 6:06 p.m. e-mail from BCMC Director of Marketing Pam Shadle.

Though BCMC Board of Trustees Chairman Sandy Hardy is out of the country, according to Shadle, he was able to leave or make a statement after accepting Bedsole's resignation:

“We appreciate Mr. Bedsole’s dedication and ... Read More]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:04:23 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/105/8/new-hanover-regional-medical-center-says-no-thanks-to-bcmc.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/105/8/new-hanover-regional-medical-center-says-no-thanks-to-bcmc.html As reported by the Star New Online the New Hanover Regional Medical Center will no longer pursue a merger with the Beaufort County Medical Center. New Hanover County Medical Center was one of 11 Hospital Systems that exhibited an interest in the financially troubled hospital, and along with the University Health Systems of Eastern North Carolina was the only nonprofit to seek affiliation with BCMC

On June 17, 2010, Reporter Vicky Echenrode of the Star News reported that New Hano.ver Regiona... Read More]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:52:44 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/104/8/this-publisher-s-short-commentary-regarding-the-quasi-private-meeting-regarding-the-bcmc.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/104/8/this-publisher-s-short-commentary-regarding-the-quasi-private-meeting-regarding-the-bcmc.html On June 17, 2010, there occurred a meeting between the Beaufort County Medical Center (BCMC) Board of Trustees and the unofficial medical community serving the medical needs of the people of Beaufort County and the region. Local media sources--the Beaufort Observer and Beaufort County Now - who represent the news to the growing number of our county’s citizenry who access their information via computers, were informed by knowledgeable sources that this aforementioned meeting was closed to ... Read More]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:50:06 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/100/8/county-gravitates-toward-endorsing-construction-of-local-rest-area.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/100/8/county-gravitates-toward-endorsing-construction-of-local-rest-area.html Beaufort County commissioners are no longer unified in their opposition to the Department of Transportation’s proposed construction of a county rest area, as of their Thursday meeting with the DOT. Up until their meeting, the commissioners had been unanimous in their resistance to a local rest area since January 2009, when they wrote a resolution stating their case to state officials.

This is an especially surprising turn of events given the fact that the DOT representatives at the meeti... Read More]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:40:21 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/99/8/richardson-says-temporary-pay-cut-could-save-hospital.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/99/8/richardson-says-temporary-pay-cut-could-save-hospital.html Beaufort County commissioner Hood Richardson wants to re-establish a 5-percent cut to labor at the Beaufort County Medical Center, similar to the short-lived cut of May 2009, which was reversed due to employee complaints, according to Richardson.

Richardson, the county board’s liaison to the BCMC Board of Trustees, warned that the hospital will go bankrupt under its present operations, and specified some of his plans for cost-cutting measures at yesterday’s Beaufort County Board of ... Read More]]> Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:14:28 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/98/8/klemm-asks-board-to-hear-bcmc-employees-opinions-on-merger.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/98/8/klemm-asks-board-to-hear-bcmc-employees-opinions-on-merger.html Beaufort County Commissioner Al Klemm is considering a reversal on his position that the Beaufort County Medical Center Board of Trustees should aggressively pursue cost-cutting measures and a two-year business plan for the financially insolvent, county-owned hospital, alongside research on affiliation with a larger institution.

The Beaufort County Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 at their May 25 budget workshop to call for the BCMC Board of Trustees to pursue solvency as aggressively as affil... Read More]]> Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:13:03 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/92/8/county-requests-arizona-illegal-immigration-law-for-state.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/92/8/county-requests-arizona-illegal-immigration-law-for-state.html Beaufort County endorsed Arizona’s new illegal immigration law (SB 1070) at Monday night’s commissioner meeting in Washington. The law requires Arizona police to check with federal authorities on a person's immigration status, if officers have stopped that person for some legitimate reason and come to suspect that he or she might be in the U.S. illegally.

To access a copy of the 16-page bill click here.

The commissioners will be mailing a resolution of support for the Arizona bill to the ... Read More]]> Fri, 14 May 2010 11:24:41 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/71/8/commissioners-to-consider-resolution-on-unconstitutionality-of-health-care-reform-act.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/71/8/commissioners-to-consider-resolution-on-unconstitutionality-of-health-care-reform-act.html Beaufort County commissioners have agreed to amplify the voice of dissent to the unpopular health-care overhaul, which was signed by President Obama into law Mar. 24.

At Monday night's Beaufort County Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Stan Deatherage presented the board with a resolution requesting that North Carolina enjoin a lawsuit with 14 fellow states to sue the federal government over the constitutionality of the Health Care Reform Act. The request would be sent in the form of... Read More]]> Thu, 8 Apr 2010 15:34:19 EDT http://www.standeatherage.com/post/70/8/beaufort-county-contracts-public-boat-launch-faciltiy.html http://www.standeatherage.com/post/70/8/beaufort-county-contracts-public-boat-launch-faciltiy.html Boaters, give thanks! The Beaufort County Board of Commissioners wants to make it easier and cheaper for you access the local creeks and rivers you so enjoy.

At Monday night's meeting, the commissioners unanimously voted that Beaufort County would purchase a specific tract of waterfront land for the purpose of providing the public free water access on the south side of the Pamlico River.
A crowd gathered for the Public Hearing portion of Monday night's Beaufort County Board of Commissioners m... Read More]]> Thu, 8 Apr 2010 15:33:19 EDT