State Approves New Cape Fear Valley Hospital

FAYETTEVILLE – State officials have approved Cape Fear Valley Health’s request to build a new 65-bed hospital, adjacent to Health Pavilion North, to better serve the growing healthcare needs of northern Cumberland and southern Harnett counties.

The planned hospital will include 57 medical/surgical inpatient beds, eight intensive care beds, seven observation beds, a 20-bed Emergency Department, two operating rooms, imaging services, laboratory and other ancillary services. 

Cape Fear Valley Health originally submitted a Certificate of Need (CON) requesting the hospital last June. Under N.C. law, state regulators must approve new hospitals to prevent expensive and unnecessary duplication of healthcare services. 

The new hospital would complement Health Pavilion North’s existing services, which include a cancer center, physical and occupational therapy, ExpressCare, pharmacy, laboratory, CT, ultrasound, X-ray and offices for family practice and pediatrics.

“We are very excited,” said Mike Nagowski, CEO of Cape Fear Valley Health, “ about bringing the first new civilian hospital to Cumberland County in more than 50 years.”

CEO Appointed To State Council

FAYETTEVILLE – Cape Fear Valley CEO Mike Nagowski has been appointed by Gov. Beverly Perdue to the State Health Coordinating Council (SHCC). He was sworn in April 19, during a ceremony inside the Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Board Room.

The SHCC helps develop the annual State Medical Facilities Plan, which must be approved by the governor every year. The plan is an annual document that helps determine the need for new healthcare facilities and services in North Carolina, such as hospitals and expensive medical equipment purchases.

Marshall Faircloth, a Cumberland County Commissioner and Chairman of the Cape Fear Valley Board of Trustees, performed the swearing in ceremony, on behalf of Gov. Perdue. Nagowski’s appointment is for a three-year term that expires on Dec. 31, 2014.

Cape Fear Valley To Officially Purchase Bladen County Hospital

ELIZABETHTOWN – Cape Fear Valley CEO Mike Nagowski will meet with Bladen County Commissioners tonight to finalize the official purchase of Bladen County Hospital by Cape Fear Valley Health System.  

A ceremonial letter-signing and plaque presentation will be held during the board’s regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Bladen County Courthouse. The signing fulfills a four-year promise by the health system to purchase the hospital and make annual improvements. To date, Cape Fear Valley Health has invested nearly $19 million in upgrades. 

In 2008, Cape Fear Valley Health and Bladen County Hospital entered into a multi-year affiliation that allowed the health system the option of purchasing the hospital within five years. In the years since, the affiliation has brought an influx of improvements to Bladen County, improving healthcare for all.

The numerous improvements include:

• A new roof for Bladen County Hospital
• Aggressive physician recruitment to bring additional physicians to the county, including pediatricians, general surgeons, OB/GYN phsycians, hospitalists, ED physicians and family practice physicians
• Bladen Kids’ Care opening in Elizabethtown, bringing the first pediatrician to the county in decades
• Bladen Sleep Center opening to offer in-house sleep studies at Bladen County Hospital
• Fayetteville Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine opening an Elizabethtown office for greater patient convenience and access
• Fayetteville cardiologists now performing initial visits and follow-ups through the Bladen Consultation Center
• Bladenboro Family Practice merging with Bladen Healthcare to offer improved family care services to local residents
• Bladen County Hospital Birth Center renovations to offer an improved birthing experience for patients
• Hospitalists working in-house at Bladen County Hospital to care exclusively for hospitalized patients
• New Mid-Level Provider (Physician Assistant) added to Emergency Department staff to reduce patient wait times
• Digital Mammography equipment purchased
• - New C-arm X-ray machine purchased for greater diagnostic imaging capability in the Operating Room
• - Bladen Digital Mammography Services receiving accreditation from the American College of Radiology
• - Bladen County Hospital Lab receiving accreditation by The Joint Commission on Healthcare Organizations
• - Bladen County Hospital being named a “Red Apple” hospital by the North Carolina Prevention Partners for its commitment to provide healthy food for employees, patients and visitors
• - And Bladen Nurse, Terri Duncan, RN, BSN, being named a Great 100 Nurse for 2011.

Cape Fear Valley Health is the state’s 9^th largest health system and serves a five county region within southeastern North Carolina, including Bladen County. Bladen County Hospital is one of just two Critical Access Hospitals in the region, federally designated to provide care for primarily rural patients. 

Weatherly Appointed Interim CEO For Bladen County Hospital

ELIZABETHTOWN – Dan Weatherly has been appointed Interim CEO for Bladen County Hospital.

The Harrisburg, Ill. Native has more than 15 years of experience in the healthcare services development field. He previously held the position of Director of Outpatient Operations with Cape Fear Valley Health, responsible for developing and growing outpatient volumes for Hoke, Bladen and southern Cumberland counties.

Prior to that, he was Territory Sales Manager for PathGroup Labs, based in Brentwood, Tenn. His duties included developing new laboratory services throughout eastern Tennessee and north Georgia, and managing laboratory service operations for more than 145 physician practices.

Weatherly received his bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla., and his master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Francis in Chicago, Ill.

In his new position, Weatherly will oversee daily operations at Bladen County Hospital. He replaces Cameron Highsmith, who resigned as Bladen County Hospital CEO in October.

Cape Fear Valley CEO Talks To Wall Street About Healthcare Reform

NEW YORK – Cape Fear Valley CEO Mike Nagowski spoke before Wall Street executives today as part of an expert panel discussion on the healthcare industry.

The event was held by the Premier healthcare alliance and touched on topics, ranging from emerging healthcare trends and strategic partnerships to reducing costs and physician practices.
Nagowski spoke before the 99 executive analysts about healthcare reform and its burgeoning effects. The healthcare industry is consistently looking for news ways to improve performance while receiving less reimbursement from insurance providers.

Cutting costs is a tenuous option in the healthcare industry, where patient care quality is always a priority.

“Cape Fear Valley has been preparing for healthcare reform for years through our collaboration with Premier,” Nagowski said. “We’re focusing quality and safely reducing the cost of care through a number of initiatives.

“Our Transition of Care Clinic for congestive heart failure patients is a good example of how we are caring for patients outside the hospital. It’s not only a sound strategy for healthcare reform, it’s an effective way to improve the health status of our community.”

Cape Fear Valley Health and the Premier alliance of more than 200 other hospitals have partnered for several years to improve healthcare by collecting and analyzing performance data. The resulting best practices are then shared with more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals nationwide and 76,000 other healthcare offices and clinics.