By Leanne Cloudman

Staff Reporter

lcloudman@yadkinripple.com

The Yadkin County Commissioners voted unanimously on Monday night to allow a Kansas City, Mo. company, Hospital Management Consulting LLC, to begin negotiations for the transition period with Baptist Hospital and for HMC to submit a contract for management of Hoots Memorial Hospital within one week.

There was initially some confusion as the motion restated by Chairman Chad Wagoner was not the same motion made by Commissioner Tommy Garner.

“I don’t know what I’m voting on,” said Commissioner Brady Wooten.

After some discussion, Commissioner Kevin Austin offered the substitute motion that was seconded and passed.

There were several concerns voiced by commissioners regarding information that they felt was needed relative to a contract for services prior to a vote to hire the company.

According to statements made by Doug Atkinson, NC Baptist Hospital, Baptist and its attorneys will negotiate their transition out of managing Hoots Memorial, with the new management company. Two different representatives of Baptist Hospital stated more than once that they would come to an agreement regarding the final disposition of assets with the new management company and that until the commissioners contract with a new company, this will not be resolved.

“The hope is that HMC will determine that this area will sustain a small hospital and they will decide to build a new critical access hospital, which is their area of expertise,” said Austin.

The commissioners stated a desire to have enough information to be able to make a decision on the new management company at their March 2 meeting.