Access to quality health care is vital to the health and well-being of rural communities. Washington Regional Medical Center has served Plymouth and surrounding communities in Eastern North Carolina since 1974, caring for generations.

In 2019, the future of the hospital was threatened after bankruptcy. Affinity Health Partners, a healthcare development firm, took over management of the hospital. The group purchased Washington Regional Medical Center in 2020 and placed it back in community service as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Affinity Health Partners continues to operate the hospital on behalf of the nonprofit, leading its revitalization.

“We became involved in Washington Regional because we felt it was a facility and organization that not only could be viable and provide services to the seven counties and  communities around the hospital, but could grow, thrive and become a strong player in the overall healthcare community in the region,” said Affinity Health Partners’ CEO, Frank Avignone.

Avignone and his team made initial major investments in the hospital’s infrastructure, including replacements of the roof, HVAC system, and plumbing system to bring the facility up to code. They also renovated the laboratory patient rooms, imaging center, triage room and more.

To reinstate essential services for community members, Washington Regional Medical Center hired care providers to offer women’s health services, outpatient surgery, general surgery, pain management and plan to add more in coming months. Starting with just one physician and a few nurse practitioners in 2019, Washington Regional now has seven physicians, 16 nurse practitioners and a physician’s assistant to care for patients.

“Those are all things that will help members of the community stay at home, heal faster and spend less money,” said Avignone, adding that being closer to home offers less pressure on the families when they want to visit their family member during their stay or  post-operative care.

While Affinity Health Partners made impressive strides in the first few years, the story of Washington Regional Medical Center is one of resiliency, helping nearby rural communities preserve access to care too. With the closure of nearby Martin General Hospital in 2023, Washington Regional Medical Center opened a clinic in Williamston providing primary care within six months of the hospital’s closure. Additionally, many of the physicians and nurses from Martin General have been hired by Washington Regional Medical Center, helping to stabilize healthcare services in the region.

“That helps both from an individual perspective, as well as a community perspective because these are all community members that pay taxes, that buy groceries, that buy gasoline and live in the area, so it’s important to us not only to help the patients in the community but also the employees, and the economic situation for Martin County and Williamston,” said Avignone.  

Affinity Health Partners will continue to grow and develop Washington Regional Medical Center, carefully selecting investments based on the needs identified and outlined in Community Health Needs Assessments in the region and engaging lawmakers to access grants and funding. Top of mind for hospital, community and government leaders is rebuilding trust with the communities served by Washington Regional Medical Center. As a part of that effort, Washington Regional has re-opened ministerial lines, allowing faith leaders to get involved with patients and events. Leaders are also working with city, county, state and federal  government officials to continue to improve emergency services, revitalize surgical services and replace the intensive care services lost to the region with the closure of Martin General Hospital and establish Washington Regional as a community resource for health education.

“We build on a culture of family. The community is a family, we are a family as a hospital, and by connecting those two, it does help build trust on a continual basis,” said Avignone.

For more information, visit Washington Regional Medical Center’s website here.