Radiology practice sells imaging center to hospital partner while remaining independent
A North Carolina radiology practice is selling its imaging center to a hospital partner while its physicians remain independent.
Fayetteville-based Valley Regional Imaging is unloading its facility to Cape Fear Valley Health, a hospital based in the same Sandhills-region community of southeastern North Carolina. The acquisition has been in the works for several months and closed on Aug. 25, according to a news update provided by the medical center.
“This transition allows us to bring trusted imaging services under the Cape Fear Valley name while preserving the quality and personal attention that patients have come to expect,” Anthony Brisson, director of outpatient radiology for Cape Fear Valley Health, said in a statement.
Valley Regional Imaging was founded in 2009 as a joint venture between Valley Radiology and the hospital. Valley Radiology, meanwhile, has served the community for over 60 years, with its staff including 32 radiologists and two mid-level practitioners, according to its website.
The facility is now rebranding as Cape Fear Valley Outpatient Imaging Center. Its staff have remained in place after officially becoming Cape Fear Valley Health employees on June 1, Brisson wrote in sponsored content published by the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal. Valley Health said the imaging center sees an average of 160 to 170 patients per day, performing X-rays, bone density scans, CTs and ultrasounds. The clinic is located downstairs at 3186 Village Drive, while the Valley Radiology practice is on the upper level of the building and is not part of the acquisition, Brisson emphasized.
Cape Fear Valley Health said one of the most significant changes will be the implementation of the Epic EHR system in the center, allowing patients to access their reports, communicate with providers and view lab results through the MyChart portal. Records from before the acquisition will remain accessible, with the transition “handled behind the scenes,” according to the sponsored article.
Brisson said the health system also is considering expanding services, possibly adding fluoroscopy. Currently, the specialized X-ray exam is offered in the hospital but not in the outpatient setting.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.