Press release from Dogwood Health Trust:
Asheville, N.C. – Dogwood Health Trust has selected Affiliated Monitors, Inc. (AMI) to provide independent monitor services and oversee HCA Healthcare’s compliance with its commitments set forth in the purchase agreement for Mission Health System. Their engagement as Independent Monitor (IM) began on April 1, 2024. The North Carolina Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and HCA both provided their consent to Dogwood’s selection, which is required under the purchase agreement.
“AMI was selected as the Independent Monitor after a thorough and thoughtful RFP process,” said Dr. Susan Mims, CEO of Dogwood Health Trust. “Their focused experience in monitoring was a distinguishing characteristic that helped inform our selection. In fact, monitoring is their only business. We are confident that our region will benefit from their attention to community engagement and experience serving as the independent monitor in matters involving hospital transactions.”
“Affiliated Monitors appreciates the opportunity to serve as the independent monitor in this matter. We are working to develop a full understanding of the issues that Dogwood, HCA, the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office, and the communities served by each of the hospitals have been facing,” said Vin DiCianni, President, Affiliated Monitors, Inc. “It will take the dedicated efforts of all parties to make the objectives of the Asset Purchase Agreement successful. We look forward to working with the parties, stakeholders and community.”
The AMI team leading the work as the new IM includes Gerald Coyne, a former Deputy Attorney General for Rhode Island; Denise Moran, who serves as Director of Healthcare Monitoring Services for the firm; and Jeff Brickman, a former hospital administrator with extensive experience in acute care hospitals in both rural and urban healthcare systems. As the IM, AMI’s work will consist of four primary categories of responsibilities including HCA’s annual report evaluation, community engagement and education, engagement with the AGO, and continuous compliance evaluation and other activities. The company will begin holding in-person information sessions throughout the region in the coming months and will publish a variety of feedback tools and resources for community members soon.
The selection process for the IM was guided by a working group of six people from within Dogwood: three staff members and three board members who serve on its covenant compliance committee. The group conducted an in-depth review of every proposal, followed by comprehensive in-person interviews with final candidates. The Dogwood Health Trust Board approved AMI as the top candidate for the new IM. As part of the vetting process, Dogwood ran background and reference checks on AMI and obtained HCA and the AGO’s consent.
“I appreciate Dogwood’s efforts to conduct a thorough search for a new independent monitor,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “I’m hopeful that the new independent monitor will provide effective oversight of HCA Mission’s healthcare commitments to the people of western North Carolina.”
“We look forward to working with the new independent monitor, and we are confident that we have been and will remain in compliance with the Asset Purchase Agreement,” said Nancy Lindell, spokesperson for Mission Health.
Dogwood Health Trust needs to repurchase MIssion Health System and return it to non-profit, community-owned status.