Medical Staff vote to be announced today

By secret ballot, the Oconee Memorial Hospital Medical Staff voted on whether to unify with Greenville Hospital System, but the result won’t be announced until today.  The doctors cast their vote last night as part of a dinner meeting at a Lake Keowee restaurant that featured a presentation from Dr. Chris Wright, the GHS chief medical officer, and what amounted to a rebuttal from Dr. Billy Campbell of Westminster.  Some medical staff members were uncomfortable at the idea of having to vote, but an attempt by Dr. Stan Rampey of Seneca to table the issue failed.  Thirty-eight medical staff members had previously voted absentee.  Another 35 or so attended last night’s meeting.  After a question was raised from the audience, OMH decided to check the eligibility of all who voted.  Hunter Kome, president of GHS’s Oconee Medical Campus, indicates the result could be announced as early as this morning.