PARRISH MEDICAL CENTER – WE EXIST TO SERVE YOU

Parrish Medical Center exists to serve its patients and our community. For years, Parrish Medical Center has been at the forefront of cancer care needed by members of our community. Parrish Medical Center’s Cancer Program was first accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) in 1989 and is one of the few CoC recognized programs in Brevard County.

Recently physicians in our community may have received letters, or seen postings from, by, or on behalf of, OMNI with inflammatory language (for example in letters sent out in mid to late January). Parrish Medical Center disagrees with the content of these letters, and condemns inflammatorily misleading statements, such as: “Since 2021, Parrish has been trying to evict OMNI from the cancer center OMNI built, with the intent of replacing OMNI’s physicians with its own.” It is Parrish Medical Center’s position that this statement does not accurately reflect reality, as it omits the central point of the litigation won by Parrish Medical Center against OMNI – OMNI failed to pay its rent for more than one year. Physicians and members of our community may have read alarming statements in such correspondence, such as “patients to travel 30-50 miles” or having to “travel significant distances for their care.” Again, it is Parrish Medical Center’s position that these statements do not accurately reflect Parrish Medical Center’s capacity or relationships with our local available providers.

Because we care about our physicians, patients, and care about the community we serve, Parrish Medical Center wishes to provide the following information.

Recently, Parrish Medical Center hired Dr. Robert K. Oldham an internationally recognized oncology/hematology specialist to care for patients in our community. Since arriving at Parrish Medical Center, Dr. Oldham has cared for hundreds of patients. Indeed, Dr. Oldham’s skills are so well respected that physicians throughout the North Brevard Community already refer to his practice despite his recent arrival at Parrish Medical Center. OMNI physicians have already been referring patients to Dr. Oldham.

Unfortunately, Parrish Medical Center, its Chief Executive Officer, and other personnel, have been the subject of what Parrish Medical Center considers to be retaliatory actions in and out of court by OMNI and Dr. Craig Deligdish – its President. Parrish Medical Center commends the restraint and steadfast attention by our personnel to the operations of our hospital and to you – it’s patients. It is Parrish Medical Center’s position that it’s personnel may not be alone in receiving multiple unacceptable communications from Dr. Deligdish. Recently, a North Carolina court granted a Dosimetrist (who had formerly rendered services for OMNI) a restraining order against Dr. Deligdish.

On February 1, 2023 the Brevard County Circuit Court ruled that OMNI must vacate Parrish Medical Center’s premises at 845 Century Medical Drive. This is welcome news to Parrish Medical Center who prevailed against OMNI, for failing to pay under the lease, in this lawsuit after 19 months of litigation.

On February 1, 2022, the Brevard County Circuit Court ordered the payment of OMNI’s funds (previously required to be deposited into the court registry) to Parrish Medical Center. The amount of unpaid rent distributed to Parrish Medical Center at the time? $626,258.52. OMNI has had to deposit on a monthly basis of over $21,000 in rent into the court registry, and Parrish Medical Center will seek its payment of the remaining unpaid rent and additional amount owed. Among other case highlights, OMNI’s CFO admitted under oath to the Judge that OMNI had the money to pay Parrish Medical Center the rent it owed, but decided not to pay pursuant to the terms of its lease.

On February 3, 2023, an appellate court dismissed OMNI’s appeal of the distribution of $626,258.52 and ruled that Parrish Medical Center is provisionally entitled to its appellate attorneys’ fees should Parrish Medical Center ultimately be found to be the prevailing party.

About twenty-nine months ago, OMNI stopped paying Parrish Medical Center rent for the cancer center that OMNI was operating next to Parrish Medical Center. Because OMNI was going to be evicted for failing to pay rent, Parrish Medical Center began preparations to assist any patients with transition of care issues so that they could be cared for locally. Dr. Oldham has been hired, and Parrish Medical Center has arranged transition of care with local radiation oncologists. For assistance with any transition of care issues, please contact Parrish Medical Center’s Oncology Department at 321-268-6831.

Parrish Medical Center is committed to its Cancer Program. Parrish Medical Center is committed to the well-being of the members of our community.