Two Hospitals Are Better Than One
health care, hospitals, lexington memorial hospital, wake forest baptist university medical center,
A long history of collaborative care between Lexington Memorial Hospital and Wake Forest Baptist University Medical Center culminated this fall in an official affiliation agreement.
Effective Oct. 1, 2008, the two hospitals began working together to provide health-care services in Davidson County. The partnership, which was several months in the making, will offer the 94-bed Lexington Memorial access to Wake Forest Baptist’s expansive network of resources.
“Given the pressures facing community hospitals, the board believes now is the best time to join with a large organization that shares our values for a bright future for health care in Lexington and Davidson County,” says Charles
W. Taylor, chairman of the Lexington Memorial board of directors.
The agreement comes on the heels of the two hospitals’ announcement that they would jointly operate the Cancer Center of Davidson County in Lexington, which is currently scheduled to open its doors in 2010.
“We see this affiliation as a natural extension of our relationship,” Taylor says.
Other unique offerings at Lexington Memorial include a joint replacement center, a wing devoted to sleep studies and around-the-clock specialist inpatient care.
The three areas in which Lexington Memorial would next like to improve are emergency room updates, operating room improvements, and the addition of a rehabilitation and wellness center, according to Taylor.
“The goal is to strengthen Lexington Memorial through expanded services, updated facilities and more physicians so fewer patients will have to travel to out-of-town hospitals,” says Steve Robertson, chairman of the board of directors for Wake Forest Baptist.
“When patients must be transferred to Wake Forest Baptist, they will have easy access,” Robertson says.
The Wake Forest health-care network is an academic medical center composed of Wake Forest University Health Sciences and North Carolina Baptist Hospital.
“We are excited to be connected to a world-renowned academic medical center that is in the forefront of education, research and clinical services,” Taylor says.
Lexington’s 120-physician staff represents more than 20 specialties. It also provides a variety of medical services including a state-of-the-art imaging center, a critical care unit, a birthing unit and 24-hour emergency services.
“Lexington Memorial is an excellent strategic fit for us as we develop a regional health-care delivery network,” Robertson says. “The affiliation will be a mutually beneficial relationship.”
Story by Michaela Jackson
Photo by Ian Curcio
