Vidant Health to build new 24/7 multispecialty care clinic in Belhaven | Eastern North Carolina Now

    For Immediate Release:

    The Vidant Pungo Hospital Board of Directors voted today to move forward with plans to build a new 24/7 multispecialty care clinic in Belhaven. The plans also include a phased closing of Vidant Pungo Hospital to take place over the next five to six months.

    "Delivering care locally is a vital part of the Vidant Health mission, and we are committed to providing affordable care locally in Belhaven and the surrounding communities," said Dr. David Herman, president and CEO, Vidant Health. "We must seek affordable and sustainable solutions for health care delivery to ensure the people in this region have access to care."

    Vidant Health is always looking for the most effective ways to deliver local care across the system to maintain affordable care for the region. When Vidant Pungo Hospital joined the system in 2011, officials knew that there must be a long-term plan related to the current facility, due to environmental and structural concerns. The building is more than 60 years old and is located in an area prone to flooding.

    As services are transferred out of the hospital, they will be offered at local Vidant Medical Group physician practices. These services include radiology, labs, physical therapy, specialty clinics and 24 hour-a day care.

    Vidant Health expects to break ground on the new building later this year, with construction anticipated to be completed in 18 months.

    "Leadership at Vidant Health has put great thought into making this decision. They have studied the issues carefully and reviewed current usage data. They have met with our local Director's Council and have provided us with information regarding various models of care. The best sustainable model of care for our community is the 24/7 multispecialty care facility," said Rocky Jacobs, chairman of the Vidant Pungo Hospital Director's Council. "I am pleased that around-the-clock quality health care services will continue to be provided to eastern Beaufort County and mainland Hyde County, and I am excited about the new health care facility that we will have in our community."

    Residents of eastern Beaufort and mainland Hyde counties can still access other hospitals within the Vidant Health system - Vidant Beaufort Hospital in Washington and The Outer Banks Hospital in Nags Head. Should patients and families need a higher level of care, there will be helipad access at the new facility that will allow for transport to Vidant Medical Center, the region's only Level 1 trauma center and recognized by US News and World Report.

    "We are committed to providing care locally in Belhaven and will be investing more than $4 million with this new facility to ensure access to care," Dr. Herman said.

    Contact: Beth Anne Atkins, Vidant Health Strategic Development, (252) 847-7735 or beth.atkins@VidantHealth.com

    Vidant Health, a mission-driven, not-for-profit corporation, owns, leases or has a majority membership interest in nine eastern North Carolina hospitals and has a management agreement with one other. The health system includes Albemarle Health, Vidant Beaufort Hospital, Vidant Bertie Hospital, Vidant Chowan Hospital, Vidant Duplin Hospital, Vidant Edgecombe Hospital, The Outer Banks Hospital, Vidant Medical Center, Vidant Pungo Hospital, Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Vidant Home Health and Hospice, Vidant Wellness Centers, Vidant Medical Group and is affiliated with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. On the web at www.vidanthealth.com