Lenoir Memorial Enters Into Partnership Agreement With UNC Health Care

May 17, 2016

Discussions regarding an affiliation began between the Lenoir Memorial board and UNC Health Care leadership earlier this year. The board recognized the extraordinary opportunity to partner with a flagship healthcare leader in the state—defined by excellence in research, clinical advancements and quality of care—was one not to be missed. It became clear that an agreement with UNC Health Care will best position Lenoir Memorial to create a stronger hospital for the Kinston community for generations to come.

“We are excited about our partnership with UNC Health Care and look forward to the vast array of support they will offer us here at Lenoir,” said Gary Black, president and CEO. “Our board has been very thoughtful in this process and we believe that this partnership will allow for the growth of services in this community. UNC Health Care is very much aware of the challenges facing community hospitals in this economic environment and has assured our board that they can assist us in addressing the challenges and maintaining healthcare close to home. It is our belief that an affiliation with UNC Health Care will best position Lenoir Memorial to continue our mission to ensure exceptional healthcare for the people we serve.”

Lenoir Memorial employees will keep their current positions and will remain employees of Lenoir Memorial, a private, not-for-profit hospital, not the state. This agreement does not involve any sale or exchange of assets and will allow Lenoir Memorial to maintain local governance.

“We are pleased to welcome Lenoir Memorial Hospital into our system of 10 hospitals and hospital systems, our physician’s networks and our affiliation with the UNC School of Medicine,” said William L. Roper, MD, CEO of UNC Health Care. “This partnership with Lenoir Memorial Hospital will continue our efforts to provide the highest quality care to our patients across North Carolina.”

This affiliation will allow Lenoir Memorial to provide a broader scope of resources and experience to benefit its patients. Some of the primary benefits include:

• Expansion of locally available hospital and community-based patient care services to enhance patient care
• Improved patient experience and satisfaction
• Enhanced operational efficiency
• Recruitment of additional highly trained and skilled physicians
• Access to cutting-edge research and treatments at UNC Health Care

About Lenoir Memorial Hospital

Lenoir Memorial, licensed for 261 beds, is a not-for-profit hospital dedicated to the community it serves by offering quality inpatient, outpatient and preventive healthcare services that are close to home. In addition to general medical, surgical, and obstetrical and gynecological care, Lenoir Memorial offers specialized services including cardiology, pulmonology, oncology, radiology and urology. With a medical staff of over 100 physicians, Lenoir Memorial offers a range of specialty services and technology one would only expect to find at hospitals in larger cities. Learn more at lenoirmemorial.org.

About UNC Health Care

The UNC Health Care System is a not-for-profit integrated health care system owned by the state of North Carolina and based in Chapel Hill. It exists to further the teaching mission of the University of North Carolina and to provide state-of-the-art patient care.

UNC Health Care is comprised of UNC Hospitals, ranked consistently among the best medical centers in the country; the UNC School of Medicine, a nationally eminent research institution; Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville; Chatham Hospital in Siler City; High Point Regional Health System in High Point; Johnston Health in Clayton and Smithfield; Lenoir Memorial in Kinston; Wayne Health in Goldsboro; Caldwell Memorial Hospital in Lenoir; Nash Health Care in Rocky Mount; UNC REX Healthcare and its provider network in Wake County; and the UNC Physicians Network.

For more information, please visit www.unchealthcare.org.