Clovis Community Medical Center file photo

Central California Faculty Medical Group (CCFMG) will pay a $1.2 million settlement over its September 2020 neurosurgeon walkout at Community Regional Medical Center, a move that Community said was carried out with less than 32 hours’ notice.

The walkout left the provider with insufficient time to replace its neurosurgeon staff, a move that put Community’s level one trauma center at risk, according to a CRMC news release.

According to the complaint, CCFMG, now known as Inspire Health Medical Group, aimed to strip Community of its level one trauma center designation to gain negotiation leverage over the provider.

“While the $1.2 million settlement CCFMG will pay does not fully address the disruption caused by the unprecedented neurosurgeon walkout, it does reinforce that business disputes should never impact patient care and the health of our community,” said Community Chief Operating Officer Craig Wagoner. “Our hope is that CCFMG will work with us to ensure that abrupt interruption of patient care never happens again.”

The walkout also took place at a critical moment for health care workers in the Valley, coinciding with not only the COVID-19 pandemic but additionally the Creek Fire, according to the release.

“By putting this unfortunate dispute behind us, we hope to repair the relationship with CCFMG that Community has had for decades and focus on providing the best possible care for the Central Valley,” Wagoner added.