The rating on North Carolina Medical Care Commission's bonds, issued for Pitt County Memorial Hospital, reflects: Market dominance, Service essentiality, and A solid financial profile. An offsetting credit factor is an aggressive debt-funded strategic plan, resulting in a moderately high leverage position for the 'AA' rating category. The bonds are general obligations of Pitt Memorial Hospital. Pitt, located in Greenville, N.C., is a 731-bed regional referral center and the largest and only tertiary provider for 29 counties, serving 1.2 million people in eastern North Carolina. In addition to the main facility, the system consists of five other hospitals with a total of 1,142 beds. The hospital enjoys an 87% market share in its primary service area, a 35% share in
