The lengthy battle over which health system will construct a hospital in Hoke County has ended -- in a draw.

Following an extensive mediation process, FirstHealth of the Carolinas and Cape Fear Valley Medical Center jointly announced Thursday that they have reached a settlement agreement over their mutual 2010 Certificate of Need (CON) appeals.

In 2010, FirstHealth was awarded a CON to build an eight-bed hospital in Hoke County. Cape Fear Valley received a CON to build a 41-bed hospital, also in Hoke County.

Each hospital appealed the other’s CON approval, and the appeals effectively prevented either entity from starting construction.

Terms of the agreement remain confidential, but FirstHealth CEO David J. Kilarski told employees and board members that both health systems will be able to “move forward with building their respective hospitals.”

See Friday's edition of The Pilot for the full story.