By WakeMed
In May, WakeMed and Atrium Health announced plans to form a strategic combination that would unite WakeMed, the largest health system in Wake County, with Atrium Health, which includes more than 40 hospitals and cares for North Carolinians across the state. Atrium Health is part of Advocate Health, one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the country.
With this agreement, WakeMed would become part of the Charlotte-based Atrium Health system while remaining a private, nonprofit, community-based organization, committed to fulfilling its mission of caring for Wake County through local leadership, local board oversight, local physicians and longstanding community collaborations and commitments. In short, WakeMed remains WakeMed, but with enhanced access to resources and expertise that will further strengthen the world-class health care delivered here in Wake County by the clinical care teams that our patients know and trust.
While Atrium Health may not be a household name in the Triangle, they – like WakeMed – were founded on a mission of caring ‘for all’. Over many decades of caring for their communities, WakeMed and Atrium Health have established legacies that are remarkably similar – centered around an unwavering commitment to serving all patients and families. This alignment of mission and purpose, along with a proven commitment to high-quality care, patient safety, positive work culture, innovation and clinical excellence, makes Atrium Health an ideal partner for WakeMed.
Atrium Health also brings a decades-long history of financial stewardship and investment in the communities it serves – a steadfast responsibility which will extend to Wake County. As part of this agreement, Atrium Health has pledged a $2 billion investment in WakeMed to help modernize and expand our facilities, including the flagship Raleigh Campus on New Bern Avenue, which will improve access to care for our Southeast Raleigh community and beyond. This will also allow WakeMed to invest in new ways to care for those who need us, by building new care sites, adding new specialty services and state-of-the-art equipment, expanding virtual care options and enhancing community-based programs. Through this combination, WakeMed will also be able to expand its financial assistance policy, allowing anyone under 300% of the federal poverty level to receive care at no cost, and those between 300% and 400% to receive care at a discounted rate.
It is important to note that this combination was not proposed because WakeMed is weak or in financial trouble. In fact, the opposite is true. WakeMed is entering this combination from a position of strength – and well-poised to continue building on our legacy to serve all for generations to come. The health care landscape is changing rapidly, and being part of a larger organization will help WakeMed better respond to the challenges associated with unpredictable changes in health care policy and legislation, local and regional competition, and rising cost pressures. This combination is about proactively preparing for the future to ensure we can continue to meet the needs of our growing, dynamic and diverse communities.
Over the past four months, there has been much discussion about the role of Wake County in this strategic combination. While WakeMed is not owned by the County, and does not receive any County funding or tax dollars, Wake County Commissioners must approve an amendment to two formal documents for the strategic combination between WakeMed and Atrium Health to move forward. These documents include several requirements that will ensure WakeMed will continue providing for our community as we always have. This includes maintaining the amount of charity care we provide; remaining locally led and governed; and that County Commissioners continue to appoint a majority of the WakeMed Board of Directors, as they do today. This helps ensure citizens of Wake County have a majority of Board members looking out for this community’s best interests.
For 65 years, WakeMed has been committed to delivering great care with great purpose to a great community. While much has changed since opening our doors in 1961, our mission to care for all has never wavered and we are not walking away from it now. The opportunity to unite WakeMed with Atrium Health is in the best interest of the patients and families we serve today and those we will care for tomorrow. Critically important, WakeMed’s mission of improving the health and well-being of our community with outstanding and compassionate care for all, will not only be sustained, but will be strengthened by the combination with Atrium Health.
We believe this new partnership is the best path forward for preserving WakeMed’s legacy, mission and commitment to serving all—improving access, quality of care, and the long-term health of those we serve.
