When moving to a new area, many people scrutinize things like education, variety and affordability of housing, recreation options, among others. However, few newcomers pay enough attention to the quality and affordability of leading-edge healthcare that is available to them and their families. This is important and should be taken into account when relocating to a new city or town.
Fortunately, residents of Fayetteville and Fort Bragg — as well as the surrounding Sandhills region — are blessed with accessible, quality healthcare right at home. The larger health systems, individual hospitals, specialty clinics, and the supporting network of physicians make up a dynamic network in support of your health and wellbeing.
“Being close to Fort Bragg and Womack brings a wide range of quality medical personnel with diverse experiences to our area. Fayetteville benefits not only by the active military who bring their own skills, and often join civilian practices after leaving the military, but many times their spouses are also in the medical field and looking for work,” said Karen Karen Mantzouris, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Southern Regional Area Health Education Center (Southern Regional AHEC), a family physician practice and health education center in Fayetteville.
“In addition to this military advantage, Fayetteville Technical Community College has long held a reputation for graduating top-notch medical services personnel in a variety of medical fields. Methodist University's Physician Assistant Program and two university's in the area that offer four-year nursing programs also help to build a strong local health care workforce.”
The major healthcare systems of Cape Fear Valley Health System, Womack Army Medical Center, FirstHealth Moore Regional, and Harnett Health Betsy Johnson Hospital, do a fabulous job of providing advanced techniques with a feeling of community and support. The local specialty facilities are also of the finest quality and provide services ranging from sports medicine to cosmetic surgery.
“The largest hospital in the region and many health care organizations in the area are affiliated with some of the most trusted names healthcare, so we could stand proudly with other metropolitan cities across the U.S. Cape Fear Valley Medical Center provides the same critical care services found in the largest hospitals,” said Mantzouris. “Their heart center is affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic, known as one of the best heart centers in the U.S.”
In addition, just a short drive north to the Triangle cities of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill provides access to world-renowned healthcare and highly ranked medical schools. If you are considering a move to the area, or if you already on your way, take great comfort in the fact that you — and your family — will be receiving the best healthcare available.
The following is a closer look at some of the region’s well-know healthcare providers. It is not a comprehensive listing, but will give you an idea of options for your family.
Cape Fear Valley Health System
Located in Fayetteville and serving the entire Sandhills region is Cape Fear Valley Health System, the ninth largest health system in the state. With close to 1 million patient visits each year, Cape Fear Valley Health System’s medical staff includes more than 500 physicians from 46 different specialties.
Since 1956, the system has grown from a 200-bed, one-building hospital to a regional health system with 765 beds, five hospitals, and primary care physician offices throughout Cumberland County and surrounding areas.
Cape Fear Valley Health was recently was one of just 76 hospitals nationwide to achieve Premier QUEST Top Performance status this year for meeting stringent performance goals in three areas of saving lives, safely reducing the cost of care, and delivering the most reliable and effective care.
Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, located in Fayetteville, is a 485-bed acute-care hospital offering quality care in open-heart surgery, cancer treatment, neonatal intensive care, emergency medicine, pediatric intensive care and more.
Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital is a 112-bed specialty hospital, specializing in acutely ill patients who require a longer hospital stay.
Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center is a 78-bed physical rehabilitation facility offering care for patients with brain and spinal cord injuries, stroke, orthopedic injuries and other physical impairments. Inpatient and outpatient services for adults and children include physical therapy, occupational therapy, sports therapy, therapeutic recreation, speech, audiology and psychology. A self-contained rehabilitation hospital, it offers a greenhouse and courtyards,
therapeutic pool, gymnasium and model apartments where patients can practice daily living skills.
Behavioral Health Care is a comprehensive 32-bed psychiatric hospital with inpatient services for adults and outpatient services for children, adolescents, adults and families. Staffed by psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, licensed professional counselors and other mental health professionals, BHC provides a team approach to mental wellness.
Bladen County Hospital, located in Elizabethtown, is a public, not-for-profit,
58-bed critical access hospital that includes a 24-hour Emergency
Department, 40-bed Medical/Surgical Unit, an Intensive Care Unit and
an up-to-date Birthing Center.
HealthPlex is an award-winning fitness and wellness facility with 65,000 square feet containing two pools, multiple exercise classrooms, a running track and more. Cape Fear Valley Health’s physician offices are located throughout Fayetteville and surrounding counties for convenient access. They include family-practice physicians as well as specialists in pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology and geriatrics.
Cape Fear Valley is a non-profit, community-owned health system governed by a 22-member Board of Trustees. The board includes all of the Cumberland County Commissioners, as well as Physicians, Registered Nurses, and various members of the community.
FirstHealth of the Carolinas
FirstHealth of the Carolinas is a major healthcare network located in Pinehurst, N.C. In addition to FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital and the Reid Heart Center, the system includes a rehab center, three sleep disorder centers three dental clinics, six family care centers , six fitness centers, a laundry, four charitable foundations, a Hospice program, and home health services. Visit http://www.firsthealth.org/physician/ to find a FirstHealth affiliated provider.
Moore Regional
Moore Regional, FirstHealth’s flagship hospital, has gained acclaim for its outstanding heart care led by expert cardiologists and surgeons who provide the region with the highest level of care and services. Reid Heart Center, the FirstHealth Cardiac and Vascular Institute located at Moore Regional, is a modern healthcare facility worthy of the professionals who practice inside its walls.
The state-of-the-art Reid Heart Center combines all the elements of cardiovascular care in one area. Offering one of the largest, most comprehensive heart and vascular disease programs in the mid-Carolinas, the heart center builds upon the hospital’s reputation for high-quality, persnalized care that rivals treatment provided at distant academic centers.
The four-story facility consists of inpatient rooms, outpatient clinics, operating rooms, cath labs and nuclear medicine. Perhaps the most unique features of the heart center are its multi-use operating rooms. Often referred to as hybrid-ORs, these specialized rooms allow medical teams to perform two or more procedures, such as cardiac and vascular, during one operation without the need to transfer a patient to a different specialized location. The rooms also allow for combined procedures with high-definition imaging within the operating room.
Leading the way in the latest advancements in health care at FirstHealth are nearly 300 medical staff members. More than 90 percent of these physicians are board certified — in specialties such as cardiology, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, pain management, oncology and neonatology. Many are board certified in multiple specialties.
FirstHealth’s award winning orthopaedic program provides a complete range of orthopaedic treatments for nearly every orthopaedic condition, including joint disorders of the knee, hip and shoulder, arthritis, neck and back injuries, foot and ankle injuries, hand injuries and many more.
The neurosurgery program at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital employs four highly skilled board certified neurosurgeons who offer advanced, around-the-clock neurosurgical services to the Sandhills and surrounding areas.
The Moore Regional stroke care program has earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval. The designation, which was developed in collaboration with the American Stroke Association, recognizes programs that have made exceptional efforts to ensure better outcomes for stroke patients. One of these efforts is ongoing Magnet nursing designation. Moore Regional’s nursing staff is one of only 21 hospitals in the state to continuously earn this prestigious recognition of nursing excellence.
Womack Army Medical Center
The Womack Army Medical Center in Fort Bragg is a both historic and cutting edge as it proudly serves the more than 160,000 eligible military beneficiaries in the region, the largest beneficiary population in the United States Army.
According the center’s website, in May, 1955, ground was broken for Womack Army Community Hospital. It was built after the Korean War in 1950-1953, replacing the sprawling Station Hospital of World War II. The hospital honored an enlisted soldier, Private First Class Bryant H. Womack from Mill Spring, North Carolina. PFC Womack posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions as a combat medic in Korea.
In 1958, Womack Army Community Hospital opened with a bed-capacity of 500, in a high-rise building nine stories tall. The Womack Ambulatory Patient Care Annex opened in 1974. In 1991, Womack became the Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg . One year later, on Sept. 3, 1992, officials broke ground for a new Womack. The hospital remained the principal medical facility on Fort Bragg for more than 40 years.
Womack Army Medical Center, now with more than 1 million square feet, is proud to serve the more than 160,000 eligible beneficiaries in the region, the largest beneficiary population in the Army. This facility has three connecting buildings. Building A is the clinic mall area at the All American Expressway entrance and it houses the outpatient clinics.
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