You Deserve
The Truth

MEDNAX continues to run a fear-based ad campaign aimed at Charlotte residents, making false and misleading statements about Atrium Health. Why? Because Atrium Health did not enter into a new anesthesia services contract with MEDNAX (NYSE: MD), a Florida-based company that bought out physician-owned Southeast Anesthesiology Consultants for $200 million in 2010.

It’s time to expose these falsehoods with the truth.

We have never compromised on quality and safety – we never will.

More than ever, Atrium Health is committed to delivering the best care for all.


Top falsehoods by Mednax

CLAIM: MEDNAX says Atrium Health obtained and used its confidential information.

“Atrium Health obtained highly confidential, sensitive information and trade secrets from Southeast Anesthesiology Consultants under false pretenses...”
– Mednax’s Your Critical Moment ad

TRUTH: Atrium Health has never received or used any confidential, sensitive information or trade secrets.

This is a fabricated story by Mednax in an attempt to create a controversy that interferes with Atrium Health’s mission and the smooth transition with our new anesthesia partner. During negotiations, Mednax gave Atrium Health a presentation we did not request, which contained routine and commonly known information. Mednax tried to use this presentation to persuade Atrium Health to substantially reduce the number of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) practicing in Atrium Health facilities. This idea was never considered or used, and was quickly rejected by Atrium Health.


CLAIM: MEDNAX says Atrium Health established a competing medical services provider.

“Atrium Health obtained highly confidential, sensitive information…in an effort to establish a competing medical services provider.”
– Mednax’s Your Critical Moment ad

TRUTH: Atrium Health hasn’t established “a competing medical services provider” at all, but has simply contracted with a new anesthesia services provider, Scope Anesthesia of North Carolina.

Atrium Health considered Scope Anesthesia and other service providers as alternatives to Mednax, ultimately concluding that Scope Anesthesia was the provider that best met Atrium Health’s mission and standards of excellence, and would enhance its surgical programs and capabilities.


CLAIM: MEDNAX says inexperienced anesthesiologists will begin working at Atrium Health.

“Come July 1st, your intern won’t be the only new doctor in the operating room. That means July 1 will be the first day for a new group of anesthesiologists to come into the OR having never worked together.”
– MEDNAX, Charlotte Observer ad

TRUTH: Atrium Health’s new partner is bringing highly qualified anesthesiologists to our organization now.

Our new physicians have an average of 18 years of experience, with an average age of 51. They come to us with clinical training from widely regarded institutions, such as Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Duke and many other leading academic centers.


CLAIM: MEDNAX says our changes at Atrium Health will make anesthesia care unsafe.

“…Atrium Health’s plans to radically change the way it delivers anesthesia care, by reducing the number and role of physician anesthesiologists in their hospitals and other facilities.”
– MEDNAX, Your Critical Moment Website

TRUTH: Atrium Health’s staffing model is not changing with our new anesthesia services provider.

We will be using the same ratio of anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) as we currently do. We will continue, as always, to provide high-quality, safe care.


CLAIM: MEDNAX says moving away from their company will affect our quality and patient safety at Atrium Health.

“If quality and patient safety are of paramount concern, such an action does not make sense…It also questions Atrium’s decision to dismantle that program, and the potential impact on quality and patient safety as an entirely new team scrubs in.”
– MEDNAX, Charlotte Business Journal

TRUTH: Atrium Health’s focus on patient safety and quality is the very reason we couldn’t partner with MEDNAX any longer.

During negotiations, MEDNAX refused to sign key patient safety and quality provisions that would ensure the stability of the group and thereby ensure the safety of our patients and community. Last July, MEDNAX’s employed physicians were so frustrated with MEDNAX that they threatened to walk off the job in mass, which would have left patients in our community without access to critical care.


Top things to know

  • Mednax is facing significant threats to its business model from disgruntled and defecting physicians and hospitals looking for alternative anesthesia services. It faces enormous pressure from Wall Street to ensure profits for its stockholders, and Atrium Health is a significant book of business it will lose.
  • Mednax is a publicly-traded, for-profit company that is headquartered in Florida, and bought the local physician-owned Southeast Anesthesiology Consultants in 2010 for approximately $200 million.
  • Since 2014, due to ongoing concerns with Mednax, we transitioned to other anesthesia providers in four of our facilities. These transitions have been seamless and enhanced quality and patient satisfaction. 
  • We notified Mednax of the termination of its anesthesia services in January 2018. We are not comfortable partnering with a company that refused to agree to significant key terms, including changes that would protect the safety of our patients through provisions addressing Mednax’s demonstrated instability in providing services.
  • Atrium Health has partnered with Scope Anesthesia to start on July 1. Led by Tom Wherry, who has managed large anesthesia groups, Scope is bringing highly skilled physicians to join our surgical team.
  • Our surgical programs are recognized as among the best in the country, and nothing will change on July 1. In fact, patients will experience more time, not less, with Scope anesthesiologists.
  • Atrium Health highly values and respects the anesthesiologists currently practicing at Atrium Health facilities. We regret that Mednax is preventing them from further practicing in their communities.

Patient Frequently Asked Questions

What is going on with anesthesiologists at Atrium Health?

Simply put, Atrium Health didn’t renew its anesthesia services contract with Mednax, a Florida-based company that bought out physician-owned Southeast Anesthesiology Consultants for $200 million in 2010. We are not comfortable partnering with a company that refused to agree to significant key terms, including changes that would protect the safety of our patients through provisions addressing Mednax’s demonstrated instability in providing services.

Contractual matters like this are typically handled privately between two organizations. Unfortunately, Mednax continues to run a fear-based ad campaign aimed at Charlotte residents, making false and misleading statements about Atrium Health.

Regardless of these issues with Mednax, Atrium Health is planning for a seamless transition to our new anesthesia partner, Scope Anesthesia, on July 1, 2018.

Will there be an anesthesiologist in my surgery? Are you replacing anesthesiologists with nurses?

Anesthesiologists are an important part of our surgical teams and there are no changes to our staffing ratios. Atrium Health values our physicians and follows medical best-practice surgical ratios to ensure the best quality care and safety outcomes are met for our patients. We will be using the same ratio of anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) as we currently do. We will continue, as always, to provide high-quality, safe care.

When will these changes take place and what is going to change?

Absolutely nothing will change with our care for patients. Our current contract with Mednax expires on June 30, and on July 1, Scope Anesthesia, our new anesthesia partner will take over services. We are taking every step to ensure this will be a smooth transition with no impact on patient care. You can expect the same excellent care from Atrium Health and our physicians and our entire anesthesia care team that we have always provided.

Should I cancel my surgery?

No. You should feel confident that the excellent care you receive at Atrium Health and our commitment to you will not change.

Scope Anesthesia is bringing highly qualified anesthesiologists to our organization now and they meet and exceed all education, experience, licensing, and credentialing requirements. Our new physicians have an average of 18 years of experience, with an average age of 51, and come to us with clinical training from widely regarded institutions such as Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Duke Health, and many other leading academic centers.

Are there going to be enough anesthesiologists?

Atrium Health’s surgical programs are recognized as among the best in the country and Scope Anesthesia is bringing talented and experienced physicians to Atrium Health and has been able to attract top-notch physicians to fill needs. The anesthesia team will be fully staffed well before the transition on July 1.

Can you share more information about Scope Anesthesia and the experience of the anesthesiologists?

Atrium Health’s new anesthesia partner, Scope Anesthesia, is led by Tom Wherry, MD. Dr. Wherry has managed large anesthesia groups, trained at Johns Hopkins Hospital and is certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology. Atrium Health’s surgical programs are recognized as among the best in the country and because of our quality and outcomes, we are able to attract some of the most talented and experienced physicians from all across the country.

Scope Anesthesia is bringing highly qualified anesthesiologists to our organization now and they meet and exceed all education, experience, licensing, and credentialing requirements. Our new physicians have an average of 18 years of experience, with an average age of 51, and come to us with clinical training from widely regarded institutions such as Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Duke Health. Many have been leaders in anesthesia programs in major health systems and are known nationally for excellence in anesthesia-related care.

Is it true that Atrium Health obtained and used confidential information from the previous anesthesia provider?

No. Mednax has made false allegations in connection with advertising it has run that were fabricated to create a controversy that it hoped would interfere with Atrium Health and the smooth transition to Scope Anesthesia. During negotiations, Mednax gave Atrium Health a presentation we did not request, which contained routine and commonly known information. Mednax tried to use this presentation to persuade Atrium Health to substantially reduce the number of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) practicing in Atrium Health facilities. This idea was never considered or used, and was quickly rejected by Atrium Health.

Will Atrium Health’s new anesthesia partner take my insurance?

We don’t expect there to be any differences in insurance with our new anesthesia providers. Your insurance company can help guide you on what your exact coverage is with Atrium Health.

Where will the current anesthesiologists go?

Atrium Health highly values and respects the anesthesiologists currently practicing at Atrium Health facilities. Regrettably, Mednax has indicated that it will try to prevent its physicians from continuing to work at Atrium Health. Because of Mednax’s demands, many will be forced to seek work outside their communities after June 30.


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