BY MILES LAYTON

PLYMOUTH — Washington Regional Medical Center’s representatives brought a long-awaited dose of optimism to the Washington County Board of Commissioners last Monday, Oct. 6, announcing the hospital’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and outlining major expansions in medical services, staffing, and technology.

Bruce Patterson, speaking on behalf of the hospital, detailed an ambitious series of improvements made over the past six months — developments that he said signal a renewed era of stability and growth for the once-struggling facility.

“We are completely out of Chapter 11,” Patterson told commissioners. “The hospital is on solid financial footing.”

As of September 23, Washington Regional officially exited its bankruptcy proceedings, which had been in place since 2023. Patterson said the hospital now maintains an average daily census of around ten patients, a notable improvement from prior months.

Hospital Expands Specialties and Partnerships

Since the beginning of the year, Washington Regional has added 14 clinicians and launched several new specialty services, including gynecology, podiatry, pulmonology, neurology, orthopedics, and dermatology. The expansion has been paired with new partnerships that connect the small rural hospital to some of the state’s leading medical institutions.

Among the most significant developments is a newly formalized affiliation with Duke University School of Nursing, which Patterson described as “a milestone for both Washington Regional and eastern North Carolina.”

The partnership allows bilateral nursing education and placement opportunities, enabling Duke’s master’s degree nursing students to train at the Plymouth hospital while Washington Regional’s staff serve as adjunct faculty for the university. In addition, the collaboration includes joint quality improvement projects aimed at enhancing patient care and clinical standards.

In another step toward modernization, the hospital also announced a new relationship with the Shriners Children’s Hospital Network, which will provide pediatric orthopedic care via telehealth directly from Plymouth.

“This means families won’t have to drive hours for specialized pediatric care,” Patterson said. “We’re bringing it right here to Washington County.”

To support its growing capabilities, the hospital recently acquired a 128-slice CT scanner, which Patterson described as “the highest resolution CT scan in the Southern County area.” The upgrade, he said, positions the hospital to offer advanced diagnostic services on par with larger regional facilities.

Community-Oriented Healthcare

Washington Regional has also taken steps to integrate more deeply with local schools and community institutions. The hospital now provides athletic physicals and Department of Transportation drug testing for both Washington County Schools and Tyrrell County Schools.

It also remains the only medical facility in the region offering 3D mammography, which Patterson said provides “painless mammography” — an innovation that has already increased the number of local women participating in regular screenings.

Patterson said the hospital’s leadership is also exploring upcoming construction and renovation projects, signaling confidence in the hospital’s long-term stability.

Commissioners welcomed the update, with several noting that residents had shared positive feedback about the improved quality of care.

“This is encouraging news,” said Commissioner John Spruill after the presentation. “It’s hopeful to see the hospital turning the corner. They’ve been through some tough years, but they’re clearly making strides to restore trust and deliver the essential healthcare services our county and neighboring communities depend on.”

However, Spruill noted that some financial matters remain unresolved.

“To my understanding, there remains an outstanding property tax balance owed to the county, unless that obligation has been addressed recently,” he said. “That’s something we’ll need clarity on.”

Spruill Calls for Rural Healthcare Support

Commissioner Spruill placed Washington Regional’s progress in the broader context of a statewide debate over healthcare funding.

“This report also comes at a time when state leaders are debating how best to fund healthcare across North Carolina,” Spruill said. “The Senate has proposed $103.5 million in funding for a new children’s hospital in the Triangle, while the House has resisted including that allocation.”

Spruill added that while high-profile projects attract attention in urban centers, smaller rural hospitals are struggling to survive.

“Communities like ours can’t be forgotten in this debate,” he said. “Rural hospitals depend heavily on Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements, and those funds are already stretched thin. We need state investment that supports access to care in rural counties — not just major projects in Raleigh or Durham.”

Spruill emphasized that rural hospitals often serve as both the first and last line of defense in medical emergencies. “Maintaining them is critical to the health, safety, and stability of Washington County and the entire region,” he said.

Former Roper Middle School May Become ‘Washington County Community Center’

In other business, commissioners held a public hearing on renaming the former Roper Middle School, which the county is repurposing as a multipurpose community facility.

County staff presented results from a 62-day public survey in which “Washington County Community Center” received the strongest support, earning 76 percent of votes. Other suggested names included Washington County Union Complex, Washington County Civic Center, and Roper Community Complex.

Commissioners also floated additional titles such as “Washington County Public Administration Complex” and “Washington County Central Administration Complex.” No final decision was made, and staff were directed to continue collecting public feedback before bringing a recommendation back to the board next month.

Spruill said he was encouraged by the strong community engagement.

“I’m encouraged by the public participation in helping name our new community facility at the former Roper Middle School,” he said. “Even though this building is a repurposed school, it provides us with the opportunity to expand vital services to the citizens of Washington County.”

The facility already houses several county departments and partner organizations, including the Board of Elections, the Center for Aging, and a remote campus for Beaufort County Community College. Civic groups have expressed interest in using the facility for meetings and programs, and Spruill said he hopes it will soon host business development activities and community events.

“This project represents more than just a building,” he said. “It’s an investment in our county’s future — a central space where public services, education, and community life can come together under one roof.”

Water Rate Study and Infrastructure Challenges

The board also reviewed ongoing work related to county water and sewer services, as Washington County continues to balance infrastructure needs with affordability for residents.

Spruill explained that commissioners have been studying several proposed water rate structures, including tiered usage models and incremental block rates, to determine the best path forward for long-term sustainability.

“Over the past several months, county staff and commissioners have been carefully reviewing the results of our water rate study,” Spruill said. “Our goal is to maintain essential water service while expanding capacity to meet future needs.”

He praised the county’s fiscal discipline in recent years, noting that Washington County has improved water, sewer, and public facilities without raising taxes or water rates. However, he said rising costs and expanding system demands may require a modest adjustment.

“With our latest water expansion now underway, it’s becoming clear that a modest base rate adjustment may be necessary to ensure continued reliability and fund future improvements,” Spruill said. “This investment will pay dividends in the long term — strengthening our water system to support both industrial development and residential growth.”

State Funding Concerns

Spruill voiced concern that Washington County has been left out of recent rounds of state infrastructure funding that benefited neighboring communities.

“Unfortunately, while many other counties have received substantial state assistance for water and sewer projects, Washington County has not seen similar support,” he said. “In the same budget year that we sought legislative help to close the funding gap for our new school, those requests were denied — even as other counties received millions for infrastructure improvements.”

He pointed to the Harbor Towns ferry project, which received approximately $10 million in state funding through Washington County, as an example of misdirected priorities.

“That included allocations for waterfront improvements in Plymouth to accommodate tourism from ferries that are currently sitting idle and not in service,” Spruill said. “Meanwhile, our citizens are left covering shortfalls for school construction and critical water expansion projects.”

The county’s most recent infrastructure grant from the Department of Environmental Quality was appreciated, he said, but still left a $5 million funding gap that local ratepayers must absorb.

“Had we received our fair share of state investment, these projects could have been fully funded without burdening Washington County residents,” he said.

Looking Ahead

Despite those challenges, Spruill said he remains committed to pursuing every available grant and partnership opportunity to strengthen the county’s infrastructure and services.

“I’ll continue to advocate for a fair and transparent distribution of state resources,” he said. “Our citizens deserve equitable support to sustain and grow the essential services that keep our communities strong.”

Commission Chairman Carol Phelps and other commissioners echoed Spruill’s remarks, expressing appreciation for the progress at Washington Regional Medical Center and the ongoing work to repurpose county facilities for broader public benefit.

As the meeting concluded, the overall tone was one of cautious optimism.

For Washington County, the past few years have brought serious fiscal pressures, school construction costs, and water system demands — all compounded by the uncertainty surrounding its only hospital. But Monday’s meeting offered a glimpse of what county leaders hope is a turning point.

“Washington County has always been resilient,” Spruill said in closing. “Whether it’s rebuilding our hospital, strengthening our water systems, or reimagining our public facilities, we’re moving forward together. And that’s something every resident should take pride in.”