CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Atrium Health
is pleased that the North Carolina Business Court rejected the
request of Mednax, the Florida-based corporation (NYSE: MD) that
bought the physician-owned Southeast Anesthesiology Consultants for
$200 million in 2010, for a
Preliminary Injunction that would have stopped Atrium Health's
transition to our new anesthesia provider, Scope Anesthesia, on
July 1.
The court's ruling ensures that on July
1, Scope Anesthesia will have its physicians, with decades
of experience from highly regarded institutions such as
Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland
Clinic and Duke Health, begin caring for our patients. These
skilled physicians are in the process of meeting with our surgical
staff and certified registered nurse anesthetists to ensure a
seamless transition.
The court's ruling also means that Mednax's false and misleading
smear campaign that tried to bully Atrium Health into entering into
a new contract has failed.
We respect the court's decision that prevents Scope and Atrium
Health from hiring Southeast Anesthesiology Consultants' physicians
for a temporary period. We have consistently expressed our interest
in providing an opportunity for these valued doctors to remain a
part of our community and continue practicing at Atrium Health. We
regret that Mednax refused to consider releasing Southeast
Anesthesiology Consultants' anesthesiologists from Mednax's
agreements. Nonetheless, this requirement of the court will have no
impact on Atrium Health and the transition to Scope Anesthesia on
July 1, since Scope has filled its
roster with eminently talented physicians. Given the caliber and
experience of anesthesiologists we have been able to recruit,
Atrium Health and Scope made clear at the hearing there are no
current plans to try to hire Southeast Anesthesiology Consultant
physicians.
Atrium Health made the decision to discontinue doing business
with Mednax because we believed doing so was in the best interest
of our patients. Atrium Health is committed more than ever to our
patients and the communities we are privileged to serve. When
making business decisions, such as changing anesthesia services
partners, our commitment is unwavering. We have never compromised
on quality and safety, and we never will.
About Atrium Health
Atrium Health, previously
Carolinas HealthCare System, one of the nation's leading and most
innovative healthcare organizations, provides a full spectrum of
healthcare and wellness programs throughout North and South Carolina. Its diverse network of care
locations includes academic medical centers, hospitals,
freestanding emergency departments, physician practices, surgical
and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, nursing homes and
behavioral health centers, as well as hospice and palliative care
services. Carolinas HealthCare System works to enhance the overall
health and wellbeing of its communities through high quality
patient care, education and research programs, and numerous
collaborative partnerships and initiatives.
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SOURCE Atrium Health