http://pittcountynow.com Tue, 7 Sep 2010 05:12:36 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/385/7/civitas-gives-beaufort-county-government-an-a-for-efficiency.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/385/7/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 17:08:46 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/362/7/chamber-director-brands-washington-as-a-triathlete-destination.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/362/7/chamber-director-brands-washington-as-a-triathlete-destination.html Thanks to the incredibly successful third-annual Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce Olympic and Sprint Triathlons, which was held last Saturday, over 300 triathletes from across nine states now have our own Washington, North Carolina, circled on their events-destination maps.

In 2007, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Catherine Glover tapped into her youthful creativity and connections to reach this unique demographic of competitive athletes, and three years later, 350 triathlo... Read More]]> Mon, 9 Aug 2010 15:07:30 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/353/7/august-2010-events.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/353/7/august-2010-events.html We are now loading the events for August. Stay tuned by checking back in the Events Calendar to discover all the activities, many events are free to the public, that make Beaufort County the place to be; at that very moment. A unique offering in Beaufort County is the Pickin' on the Pamlico event, held Saturday, August 14th 2010 at 5:30pm until 10:00 pm on Washington's Waterfront next to the North Carolina Estuarium.

A band is scheduled (TBA) for the event. Last year the band, 360 Degrees, ... Read More]]> Mon, 2 Aug 2010 15:00:50 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/350/7/brhs-looks-to-invest-in-improving-its-rate-of-returns.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/350/7/brhs-looks-to-invest-in-improving-its-rate-of-returns.html The Beaufort County Medical Center Board of Trustees made a leap of faith at its meeting Tuesday toward bringing in a company to help the hospital implement a Clinical Documentation Improvement Program, which would help the hospital collect $1 million to $1.7 million in extra revenue within the coming year, according to worst and best-case scenarios provided by Cost/Containment Committee Chair Hood Richardson and Beaufort Regional Health Systems Chief Financial Officer Chris Riggs, respectively.... Read More]]> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:51:05 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/348/7/inner-banks-urgent-care-stepping-up-as-pamlico-urgent-care-closes.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/348/7/inner-banks-urgent-care-stepping-up-as-pamlico-urgent-care-closes.html Pamlico Urgent Care is closing Friday, leaving Inner Banks Urgent Care to single-handedly care for every illness and injury in the Washington area that falls between what’s typically treated by a family doctor and what necessitates a trip to the emergency room.

Family Nurse Practitioner, Anita Woolard joins Dr. Elisabeth Cook at Anita Woolard, a native of Beaufort County, received her family nurse practitioner degree from East Carolina University. She has over 10 years experience in Eme... Read More]]> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:40:49 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/344/7/cash-poor-hospital-accepts-county-s-favor-to-buy-its-real-estate.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/344/7/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 12:28:25 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/342/7/remembering-a-hometown-hero-and-renaming-the-runyon-creek-bridge.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/342/7/remembering-a-hometown-hero-and-renaming-the-runyon-creek-bridge.html High over the Saudi Arabian skies, USAF 1st Lt. Patrick Olson piloted his OA-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, better known as a "Warthog" to those who flew them. Lt. Olson had been in the air since 0530, and now he knew he had a problem. Lt. Olson had been directing other pilots against Iraqi tank divisions over the skies of Kuwait, and his plane had been damaged extensively by ground fire, and he was very aware of it. Three of his four hydraulic lines had been cut, and he was operating ... Read More]]> Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:05:11 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/341/7/hospital-mails-rfp-s-cost-containment-committee-re-emerges.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/341/7/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 11:50:54 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/334/7/discovering-mac-swood.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/334/7/discovering-mac-swood.html Once upon a time, in the middle of a large county there was a small town, and in the middle of the small town there was a thick, swampy, yet habitable wood, less than one mile away from a grocery store and hospital. That’s right, within walking distance to isles of processed foods and a brand new surgical center, sits an enchanted forest known as Mac’swood, where dozens of regular people live without fences, without gutters and, most importantly, without being haunted by suburban reg... Read More]]> Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:21:49 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/325/7/whose-hospital-is-it-anyway-the-beaufort-regional-health-system.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/325/7/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]]> Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:45:41 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/320/7/whose-hospital-is-it-anyway-we-begin-a-series-examining-its-organizational-structure.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/320/7/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 12:11:52 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/317/7/hospital-board-decides-to-stick-with-acting-ceo-chairman-resigns.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/317/7/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 16:30:01 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/315/7/county-commissioners-hear-a-report-on-the-hospital.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/315/7/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 10:20:13 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/311/7/sandy-hardy-reveals-his-next-move-to-beaufort-county-now.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/311/7/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 14:10:14 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/307/7/hardy-cancels-meeting-to-un-hire-uhs.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/307/7/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 10:23:34 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/303/7/brhs-board-calls-special-meeting-to-un-hire-uhs.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/303/7/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 11:33:27 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/302/7/here-s-a-look-at-the-financial-condition-of-the-beaufort-health-system.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/302/7/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 11:11:04 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/295/7/bedsole-resigns-as-ceo-of-beaufort-county-medical-center.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/295/7/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]]> Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:16:23 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/288/7/new-hanover-regional-medical-center-says-no-thanks-to-bcmc.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/288/7/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]]> Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:36:39 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/287/7/this-publisher-s-short-commentary-regarding-the-quasi-private-meeting-regarding-the-bcmc.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/287/7/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]]> Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:33:27 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/285/7/futrell-selling-washington-daily-news-to-alabama-based-company.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/285/7/futrell-selling-washington-daily-news-to-alabama-based-company.html On July 31, Beaufort County’s only locally owned print newspaper, the Washington Daily News, will soon be under the ownership of an Alabama-based newspaper conglomerate, Boone Newspapers Inc.

As reported by the Washington Daily News, “An agreement has been reached in principle for the sale of the Washington Daily News by the Futrell family to Washington Newsmedia LLC, a newly formed media company controlled by Boone Newspapers Inc. of Birmingham, Ala.”

Within the past few yea... Read More]]> Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:05:16 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/276/7/county-gravitates-toward-endorsing-construction-of-local-rest-area.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/276/7/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]]> Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:35:38 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/275/7/richardson-says-temporary-pay-cut-could-save-hospital.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/275/7/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]]> Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:28:21 EDT