By Frank Daniels IV
Staff Writer
FirstHealth of the Carolinas has purchased the land where the currently shuttered Pinehurst Radiology Associates operated.
Representatives from Pinehurst Radiology could not be reached for comment, but according to a statement from Gretchen Kelly, administrative director of government and public relations at FirstHealth, the recent sale did not include the Pinehurst Radiology practice.
“FirstHealth is renovating the building, and we will reopen it for imaging services in the near future,” Kelly said. Property records show FirstHealth bought the 3.28-acre parcel for $5.75 million from Pinehurst Medical Plaza LLC. That company’s registration with the secretary of state shows many of its members are providers at Pinehurst Radiology. Registration of a business corporation under the same name is currently being processed by the secretary of state.
The sale coincides with the date of a letter recently received by former patients of Pinehurst Radiology, stating the practice closed as of June 1. The letter informs the recipient they “may choose any provider” for medical services, and includes the contact information for FirstHealth Hospital as an option.
The letter also indicates that medical records are being transferred to New Hampshire-based Morgan Records Management and will be stored for 11 years from the last date of service. To acquire a records release, individuals can go to morganrecordsmanagement.com and select “request my records.” However, the letter indicates access could be delayed during the transition. Morgan Records’ website displays a similar note upon navigation to the request form:
“Morgan Records is working hard on getting access to Pinehurst Radiology Associates patient files. Please fill out the form if you would like to be put in the queue. Once the records are available we will begin fulfilling requests.”
In January, a cyber security threat forced Pinehurst Radiology to close its doors. At the time, communication from the company indicated a temporary closure. However, the practice did not reopen, leading up to its eventual closure.
The company’s voicemail urged patients to seek alternative providers, and partner FirstHealth, which was not affected by the threat, began adjusting to meet patient needs.
After the closure, FirstHealth officials said they were “actively working with the radiologists and FirstHealth imaging staff to ensure continued access to imaging services.”
FirstHealth has mammography and ultrasound capabilities at its Moore, Hoke, Lee, Richmond and Montgomery campuses.
Contact Frank Daniels IV at (910)693-2486 or frank@thepilot.com
