By now, you probably know firsthand that moving to a new area can be incredibly stressful. Don’t add to what is already an anxious time by failing to research your family’s healthcare options. From large health systems to smaller hospitals and clinics, the Triangle and surrounding areas — including Johnston and Southern Wake counties — offer some of the best healthcare facilities in the country.
The University of North Carolina (UNC) Health Care system, Duke University Health Care system, WakeMed Health and Hospitals, and Johnston Health all provide exceptional care for the sick and injured as well as preventive programs to serve those who are trying to stay fit and healthy. The systems also provide a multitude of job and learning opportunities for residents.
“The Triangle is home to some of the best medical facilities in the country,” said Robert E. Schaaf, MD, president of Wake Radiology. “Often independent healthcare organizations and regulatory agencies rank Triangle hospitals and providers among the best in the nation in quality and patient safety, and in specialty care for cancer, cardiac, emergency and trauma, rehabilitation and imaging services.”
The following is a closer look at a few of the leading healthcare providers serving Johnston and Wake counties.
Johnston County
Johnston Health is Johnston’s County health care system. It includes Johnston Medical Center-Smithfield, an acute care hospital on North Bright Leaf Boulevard, and Johnston Medical Center-Clayton, an outpatient center on N.C. 42 West near Amelia Church Road.
Johnston Memorial Hospital originally opened in 1951. Three years ago, the hospital’s governing board changed the name of the hospital to Johnston Medical Center-Smithfield and put into place the umbrella corporation, Johnston Health.
Johnston Medical Center-Smithfield is licensed for 179 medical/surgical beds and 20 behavioral health beds. In February of 2010, the hospital opened a five-story patient tower that includes 101 patient suites, food court, modern operating rooms and 16-bed intensive care unit. The $62 million addition, which includes new furnishings, equipment and advanced technology, is the largest in the hospital’s history.
In addition, Johnston Medical Center-Smithfield recently expanded and updated its birthing center, which includes four labor and delivery suites, 16 postpartum-care rooms, and a nursery. The experienced staff of the Women’s Pavilion cares for both the mother and infant and offers support as new moms learn to breastfeed.
JMC-Smithfield is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. With more than 200 physicians on staff, the hospital provides such medical specialties as internal medicine, gastroenterology, general surgery, mammography, cardiology, urology, physical therapy, nuclear medicine, pediatrics, pulmonology, orthopedics, radiology, psychiatry, endoscopy, obstetrics and gynecology. Its 24-hour emergency department has physician coverage at all times.
Johnston Medical Center-Clayton opened in September of 2009. The $30 million outpatient center has a freestanding, 24/7 emergency department, same-day surgery, diagnostic imaging and lab services. In the future, Johnston Health has plans to relocate 27 beds from Smithfield, add more space and expand into full-service hospital.
On the same campus, the three-story Johnston Professional Plaza has primary care physicians and specialists. A covered sidewalk connects the office building to the outpatient center.
Johnston Health’s mission is “to improve the health of the people in our communities.” Toward that end, the healthcare system operates primary care offices in Kenly and Clayton and an urgent care center in Smithfield. Also, Johnston Health assists established medical practices in recruiting primary care doctors and specialists.
A capital campaign of the Johnston Health Foundation recently raised more than $4 million to build and equip a 16-bed hospice care center for the terminally ill. The State Employees Credit Union Hospice House opened in the spring of 2010. It is located on Hospital Road, just a short distance from Johnston Medical Center-Smithfield.
The Summit Medical Center, a 32,000-square-foot facility on U.S. 70 in midtown Clayton, is leased to Johnston Memorial and Duke Medical Center. It contains an outpatient surgical center with a primary operating room, a minor surgery room, and X-ray and support laboratories and doctor’s offices on the second floor.
WakeMed Clayton, part of the WakeMed healthcare system, is a state-of-the-art medical complex offering outpatient care to Clayton and surrounding areas. Its outpatient physical rehab programs, including speech therapy and a day treatment program, are available to patients who suffer from a wide range of problems, including orthopedic, back and neck injuries, hand injuries, sports or work-related injuries, neuromuscular disorders, swallowing disorders, balance disorders, arthritis, stroke, amputations, chronic pain, and wounds requiring special care.
WakeMed Fuquay-Varina provides skilled nursing care as well as outpatient services.
Wake County
WakeMed, one of the largest medical facilities in the area, is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Raleigh. Boasting 12,000 physicians and 851 beds, two acute-care hospitals, and a network of community outpatient facilities, WakeMed offers women’s and children’s services, physical rehabilitation, home care, cardiology, emergency and trauma services, neurosciences, orthopedics, day surgery, and outpatient services. The system serves Raleigh, Cary, Clayton, Fuquay-Varina, Zebulon, and Wendell.
In 2009, WakeMed Health and Hospitals was honored with the Silver Medal of Honor for Organ Donation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In March 2010, WakeMed Cary Hospital was designated as a “Breast Imaging Center of Excellence” by the American College of Radiology. According to WakeMed’s Web site, its mission is to “provide outstanding and compassionate care to all who seek our services.”
WakeMed’s physicians represent nearly every medical and surgical specialty, with more than 90 percent being either board-certified or board-eligible. Since WakeMed is the largest off-site teaching program for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, many of its physicians hold faculty positions at the School of Medicine.
Duke Health Raleigh Hospital (DHRH), formerly Raleigh Community Hospital, is a 186-bed acute-care facility on Wake Forest Road in North Raleigh. The facility became affiliated with the Duke University Health System in 1998 and has been serving the residents of Wake County for nearly 30 years. The hospital offers high-quality diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitation, prevention, support, and health education services in an intimate, patient-friendly atmosphere.
Duke Raleigh Hospital has been part of the Duke University Health Care System since 1998. It is located in North Raleigh and has more than 500 physicians on staff.
Rex Hospital, with facilities in Raleigh, Cary, Garner and a new health center in Wakefield in North Raleigh, is part of the UNC Health Care family. Rex Hospital offers state-of-the-art healthcare in conjunction with the UNC Health Care system and was recently ranked ninth “Best Place to Work in Healthcare” by Modern Healthcare magazine.
Carolina Parent magazine has listed Rex as one of the top 50 family friendly companies nine years in a row. Rex Hospital runs the gamut of healthcare services from its birth center to its women’s services to everything in between, including innovative wellness centers.
Rex Wellness Centers start everyone off with a comprehensive health assessment in order to tailor a fitness plan for each individual. The wellness centers offer rehabilitation programs and free health education classes along with other state-of-the-art amenities. In order to provide members with the best information and programs, there are registered dieticians, exercise physiologists, sports medicine professionals and many other certified and skilled staff members available.
With 16 locations in the Triangle area and affiliations with seven hospitals, Wake Radiology is the largest multi-site radiology group in central North Carolina, performing more than 665,000 procedures each year. Wake Radiology practices a comprehensive approach to care for each procedure, combining its knowledge of state-of-the-art imaging with patient care.
“Wake Radiology is the largest physician practice in the Triangle with 55 physicians and second largest in the state of North Carolina,” said Schaaf. “We have been able to attract and retain some of the best trained and skilled radiologists and radiology technologists in the country. Our radiologists are all board certified by the American Board of Radiology and their expertise encompasses nine sub-specialties, including pediatric radiology.
“Our entire staff is committed to delivering the highest standard of care, the best in diagnostic and therapeutic radiology and in customer service that extends to all we serve — patients, referring physicians, and our hospital partners.”
Some of the services the facility offers include general diagnostic radiology, neuroradiology and ENT, orthopedic radiology, thoracic radiology, cardiac radiology, body imaging (abdominal), mammography, nuclear radiology, interventional radiology CT, MRI, ultrasound, radiation therapy, and pediatric radiology.
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