Albemarle Health, Sentara Healthcare Partnership Finalized

The Pasquotank County board and the board of Albemarle Hospital in Elizabeth City, N.C., last week approved a long-term lease agreement between Albemarle and Norfolk, Va.-based Sentara Healthcare.

Subsequently, the partnership between the two healthcare organizations took effect Saturday. Financial details were not disclosed.

"We are excited to welcome Albemarle Health staff, physicians and volunteers into the Sentara family," Sentara CEO David L. Bernd said in a news release. "Together, Sentara and Albemarle Health are committed to enhance, strengthen and grow the level of healthcare in northeastern North Carolina and to become a force in facing the challenges ahead in healthcare."

This past July, the Albemarle Health Board of Commissioners voted to enter the first stage of the process toward having Sentara operate the hospital. Greenville, N.C.-based Vidant Health had managed Albemarle for more than a decade. However, the agreement with Vidant expired in 2012, and the hospital opened a bid process to explore other options.

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