Although system officials planned to take over managerial control of hospitalist medicine by Dec. 1, a notice from Cogent set the withdrawal date for Oct. 8, according to the hospital.
The dispute followed what hospital officials described in a news release as “multiple attempts to obtain additional compensation” by Cogent. A CaroMont spokeswoman declined to provide a copy of the lawsuit filed Oct. 9 in state Superior Court in Gaston County.
A spokesman for Cogent said the company was still reviewing the lawsuit and could not comment on specific allegations. Cogent did, however, dispute CaroMont's version of events.
“Cogent Healthcare and CaroMont Regional Medical Center have mutually decided to conclude our business relationship,” Cogent said in an e-mailed statement. “To assist with the transition, we have coordinated a fully staffed program through the end of November, which will allow CaroMont to provide hospitalist services without interruption.”
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