Atrium Health Statement on Mednax Complaint
Atrium Health has received a complaint filed by Mednax, the corporate parent company of Southeast
Anesthesiology Consultants. We believe the claims Mednax has made are without merit, and this court filing is
an attempt to distract us from the true issues at hand. Unfortunately, taking their partners, as well as their very
own physicians to court is common practice for Mednax.
To provide some perspective, in recent days, Mednax has started a campaign to spread false and misleading
information online and in other advertisements about Atrium Health’s decision to transition anesthesia service
providers. We think it is important to set the record straight, and reassure the public that we remain true to our
priorities, now and always – to provide the highest quality care to every patient who walks through our doors.
It’s also important to note that Mednax is a for-profit company that purchased Southeast Anesthesiology
Consultants for $200 million in 2010, and is beholden to its stockholders. Tactics like this are typical to
companies trying to protect a sizeable book of business.
Decisions like switching our anesthesia services provider are not ones we make lightly. We have been working
since 2014 on addressing our anesthesia services program, and have been diligently negotiating for 18 month
with Mednax. In the latest negotiations, the Mednax CEO refused several contract provisions that would have
ensured the safety of our patients and communities we are privileged to serve. This language would have
protected Atrium Health and the public from Mednax anesthesiologists walking off the job due to a previous
dispute and conflict with Mednax, as nearly happened this past July 2017. Ultimately, Atrium Health wasn’t
comfortable in partnering with a company that has workforce instability demonstrated by events like this,
among other issues, and whose definition of patient safety is so drastically different than ours.
Atrium Health is committed more than ever to our patients and local communities. We have never
compromised on quality and safety, and we never will.