Carolinas Hospital System evolving with time
Wednesday, Dec 27, 2006 - 11:21 PM
Jim Newman, Reporter
The manner in which medical services are provided to the public are in a constant state of evolution, and that’s especially true at Carolinas Hospital System, which experienced many changes during 2006.
Perhaps the biggest development there has been the creation of the hospital’s new South Tower, which officially opened for business in September with an additional 48 acute-care beds.
The focus was on a design that benefits patients, but also incorporates input from medical staff.
Carolinas CEO Jim O’Loughlin said this approach will go a long way toward setting the medical facility on course to keep it prepared for the demands of patient care.
“We looked at our growth over the last four or five years, and we’ve been very fortunate,” he said. “We’ve been able to continue to grow with the community that’s growing.”
Population growth in Florence and the Pee Dee was a driving factor in this expansion initiative, O’Loughlin said.
Most hospital emergency departments experience challenges with overload, and Carolinas is no exception.
“Sometimes patients can spend the day, or a couple days, in the emergency room waiting for a bed,” he said.
The new tower will help relieve the overcrowding that can occur in the emergency department.
Another improvement includes the addition of a 12-bed intensive care unit to the main hospital’s third floor.
The acquisition this past year of a 64-slice CT scanner is another boon for patients, especially those with coronary heart disease. The scanner can image coronary arteries for dangerous plaque buildup that, for some people, could be an alternative to the standard cardiac catheterization.
A new project under way at Carolinas is the installation of an endovascular suite that will cater to patients who suffer from such disorders as peripheral vascular disease.
O’Loughlin also said there will be efforts to improve Carolinas’ cancer program by investing in new technology.
O’Loughlin said Carolinas is well prepared to meet the health-care needs of the Pee Dee well into the next decade as the population not only grows, but also ages.
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