Blue Ridge Regional, McDowell Hospitals add nine specialists to staff

Press release from Mission Health:

SPRUCE PINE, N.C. (Aug. 29, 2016) –  Blue Ridge Regional Hospital and McDowell Hospital, part of the Mission Health network, are pleased to announce the addition of nine new medical specialists over the past year.

The physicians, who serve both facilities, were added specifically to provide needed medical expertise to these communities, in the areas of urology, orthopedics, general surgery, emergency medicine and family medicine.

“We are constantly focused on improving the quality of care at our hospitals and ensuring that our patients have access to the best quality care, close to home,” said Rebecca Carter, MSN, RN, FACHE, President/CNO for Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. “These new physicians represent an investment in the health and well-being of western North Carolina, with a focus on bringing specialty coverage to the east region and this strategy is already paying dividends to our residents,” said Carol Wolfenbarger, RN, BSN, MSN, FACHE, President of The McDowell Hospital.

These new specialists are part of a Mission Health’s growing medical staff, which consists of more than 1,000 physicians certified in more than 50 medical specialties and sub-specialties.

“The addition of needed specialists across the region is just one of many investments being made throughout western North Carolina to improve our community’s health and wellness,” said Ronald A. Paulus, MD, president and CEO of Mission Health.  “Training, attracting and retaining the best and brightest into our rural communities is our unwavering commitment to our patients.  We are appreciative and supportive of MAHEC and other collaborative entities who share our mission.”

MAHEC, or the Mountain Area Health Education Center, was established in 1974 and is a leader in graduate medical education and training for the next generation of family doctors, obstetricians, and dentists for WNC.

In addition to investing in new medical staff, Dr. Paulus noted that Mission Health is expanding and upgrading facilities across western North Carolina as part of its Mission Future Ready initiative.

For example, Mission Health is investing more than $45 million in the McDowell Hospital campus to upgrade and expand parts of the hospital, including expanded emergency room services, additional inpatient rooms and updated imaging equipment.

Blue Ridge Regional physicians recently moved into a new, state-of-the-art medical office building and also installed a 64-slice GE Optima 660 CT Scanner in its Imaging Services Department. This new best of breed technology gives the ability to deliver better diagnostic imaging with the potential for a lower dose of radiation — particularly important in pediatric patients.