The governing board of Lexington Memorial Hospital and Davidson Health Care, Inc. has voted to begin formal partnership negotiations with Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.
The decision to begin formal negotiations was made by the Board of Directors at its June 24 meeting, and follows the recommendation of a special committee comprised of seven of the 15 governing members.
The committee was appointed by the board to identify and evaluate potential partners, a process which has been ongoing since January.
“At least three to four potential partners were identified for future relationships, and subsequently invited to submit formal proposals for consideration,” said Charles W. “Chuck” Taylor, board chairman.
“Following an intense review of these proposals, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center rose to the forefront as a partner who can provide a relationship that will preserve Lexington Memorial as a local entity with local governance,” he said.
“It is imperative that we maintain a strong, progressive, quality oriented hospital in Lexington,” Taylor said. “Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is a world renowned medical facility, and its proposal clearly demonstrates a partnership that will provide Lexington Memorial with the necessary resources to advance as a full service, acute care hospital with local governance.”
“The board is impressed with the commitment of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center to the Lexington community,” said Chuck Miller, vice chairman of the board and chair of the committee which has studied options for the future of the hospital.
For more than a decade, Lexington Memorial and Wake Forest Baptist have partnered to bring medical oncology services to Lexington. Wake Forest Baptist also provides dialysis services in Lexington.
Next year, the Cancer Center of Davidson County will open, offering radiation oncology services through a partnership between the two organizations.
“While the process is far from complete, we will move forward with a continued commitment to finalize an agreement that is beneficial to the long-term success of our local hospital,” Taylor said.
The board will formalize details of the partnership, with a target date of Oct. 1 for the affiliation to take place. He declined to identify other entities submitting proposals for consideration, citing confidentiality agreements.
Over the past six months, Lexington Memorial has informed the community about the process and will continue to communicate as negotiations are completed.