c050211 SandhillsClosed Session — May 2, 2011
At 6:44 p.m. the Board adjourned to closed session to consult with our attorney to consider
and give instructions concerning a potential lawsuit pursuant to NCGS 143-318(a)(3).
Commissioners Holmes, Kemp, Frye, Lanier, and Haywood were present, as well as County
Manager Richard Wells, County Attorney Ben Morgan, Associate County Attorney Aimee
Scotton, Assistant County Manager/Deputy Finance Officer Will Massie, Clerk to the Board
Cheryl Ivey; and Victoria Whitt, Sandhills Center Director.
Commissioner Frye said that Randolph Hospital is claiming that the hospital is not receiving
sufficient payment from Sandhills Center for patients who are being seen in the emergency room
with psychiatric problems. He said that the hospital is getting paid, but the payment is going to
the emergency room doctors, not to the hospital, because Randolph Hospital did not opt (with the
State) to be a psychiatric care provider. Simply put, Randolph Hospital does not have psychiatric
care beds, and psychiatric patients who are seen in the emergency room must wait in the ER for
extended periods of time until a bed is found at another facility. These patients also require
constant supervision by a deputy until the patient is transferred to another facility.
Ms. Whitt confirmed Commissioner Frye's synopsis of the situation, and added that a
mediation was held recently on a proposal by Sandhills to resolve the problem. She said that
Randolph Hospital must respond to the proposal within 48 hours and that she would apprise the
Sandhills Board of the hospital's response at their upcoming board meeting on May 10, noting
that both Commissioners Holmes and Frye represent Randolph County on this board.
At 7:10 p.m., on motion of Frye, seconded by Kemp, the Board voted unanimously to resume
open session.
J. Harold Holmes, Chairman Darrell L. Frye
Phil Kemp
Arnold Lanier
Stan Haywood
Cheryl A. Ivey, Clerk to the Board