Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center will develop plans [Architectural Rendering] for a medical complex in eastern Davie County as a result of an agreement with Novant Health and the CON Section of the Department of Health and Human Services of North Carolina.
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The medical complex will offer a broad range of services that will meet most of an individual’s healthcare needs—diagnostic imaging, outpatient surgery and related services and physician practices. The complex will be built at Interstate 40 and Hwy 801.
The agreement also permits Wake Forest Baptist to build a 50-bed acute care addition to the medical complex no sooner than 2017. “This phased approach gives us time to determine the feasibility of constructing acute care beds at the medical complex,” said Donny Lambeth, president of North Carolina Baptist Hospital.
In addition, the agreement also allows Wake Forest Baptist to apply for a CON to build a Critical Access Hospital in Mocksville. “This additional option is to build up to 25-beds to replace the existing Davie County Hospital and this requires extensive study,” Lambeth said. “We need the flexibility to meet the needs of the entire county.”
“The competitive landscape, patient needs, the economy and healthcare reform are among the major issues which must be resolved in the next few years to reach the best possible decision on these facilities for the future,” he added.
“We are pleased with the outcome of this agreement, which allows us to move forward to meet the priority healthcare needs of the Davie, western Forsyth and southern Yadkin region,” said Lambeth. “We are very grateful for the community support we have received and will depend on in the future.”
Studies show that 90 percent of an individual’s medical needs can be met without having to stay overnight in a hospital. With the changes in technology, there has been a major increase in the delivery of advanced services in an outpatient setting.
“Today’s patients demand convenient locations, easy access to services, the latest technology and affordability,” Lambeth said. “They prefer to undergo their medical tests and procedures near where they live and return home the same day. They also are seeking value with their healthcare dollar. That is what we will be offering in this center in Advance.”
The medical complex will be part of a medical and commercial park, which includes sites for sale. “We envision a variety of commercial enterprises which will create new jobs, strengthen the tax base and enhance the image of Davie County as a growing and prosperous community,” Lambeth said.
REMARKS
Donny Lambeth
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
Joint News Conference
WFUBMC and Novant Health
1:30 p.m. December 2, 2009
Wingate Inn, Winston-Salem
Good morning. Thank you for being here. I appreciate the opportunity to represent Wake Forest Baptist University Baptist Medical Center.
We are pleased with the outcome of this agreement, which allows us to move forward to meet the priority healthcare needs of the Davie, western Forsyth and southern Yadkin region.
We are very grateful for the community support we have received and will depend on in the future. The people of Davie County have stood with us for years, and we offer our deep appreciation to them for their patience, understanding and loyalty.
North Carolina Baptist Hospital began managing Davie County Hospital in 2002. Since then, admissions and visits to the Emergency Department have increased significantly. Earlier this year, we opened the HealthCare Center in Mocksville. At the Hospital, we have added cataract surgery, pain management services, sleep studies and have established additional clinics.
With this record of success that we have achieved together, we have become partners with Davie County. As the community grows and evolves, we are studying all options to determine how best to meet the future healthcare needs of Davie County residents.
The agreement allows us to develop a medical center in eastern Davie County as soon as we receive a Certificate of Need. That is expected within a few weeks, so we will begin planning for the center immediately.
The medical center will offer a variety of essential services that will meet most of the healthcare needs of residents of the region. Studies show that 90 percent of an individual’s healthcare needs can be met without having to stay overnight in a hospital.
In the past 25 years, there has been a major increase in the delivery of services in an outpatient setting and a corresponding decline in the number of required beds.
Similar medical centers already are in existence in the growing suburban areas throughout the country, including North Carolina. Recently, Moses Cone Health System in Greensboro opened one in Kernersville. These medical centers have proven to be effective in meeting the clinical care needs of patients while keeping their healthcare more affordable.
Today’s patients demand convenient locations, easy access to services and the latest technology in modern facilities. They prefer to undergo their medical tests and procedures near where they live and return home the same day. That is what we will be offering in this new center in Advance.
Our medical center will provide imaging—the latest technology to diagnose and treating illness and injury, outpatient surgery in state-of-the-art operating suites, physician practices and other related services that will be determined very soon.
Our investment will be one of the largest in Davie County history, and we will be creating new jobs with the opening of the center.
We anticipate that the medical center will be an important economic stimulus in the community, attracting businesses to invest in Davie County, creating more jobs and strengthening the tax base.
The location at Interstate 40 and Highway 8-0-1 has visibility and accessibility at a re-built interchange and expanded road that will accommodate commercial development. The site is 88 acres and will be part of a planned medical and commercial park with land available for a variety of commercial enterprises. The beautiful appearance of the park will contribute to the image of Davie County as a growing and prosperous community on the move.
The agreement gives us time to carefully evaluate the feasibility of phase two of this project—50 acute care beds. Terms of the agreement are that the acute care beds can not be opened sooner than seven years.
As I mentioned earlier, we will study all our options to meet the needs of Davie County. One option in the agreement is for Wake Forest Baptist to apply for a CON to build a Critical Access Hospital of up to 25 beds in Mocksville to replace the existing Davie County Hospital. That is an option that requires extensive study over time. We need the flexibility to meet the needs of the entire county.
Healthcare organizations, like ours, strive to meet the high expectations of the public in these challenging economic times. The issues of cost, reimbursement, quality outcomes, the high price of innovation workforce shortages, chronic diseases and our aging population are influencing us today and will continue for decades to come.
No one knows the impact of healthcare reform. Consequently, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center will be conducting a responsible analysis of needs of the marketplace and its citizens over the next few years. Thank you for your continued support.
Media Relations
Jonnie Rohrer: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587
Bonnie Davis: bdavis@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-1597