Surgery centers, hospital in talks

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WakeMed wants outpatient center

WakeMed wants to build a $60.7 million outpatient medical center next to its flagship Raleigh hospital, partly to relieve congestion at its main campus.

The health system has asked state regulators for permission to develop WakeMed Medical Park, on property WakeMed already owns at the corner of New Bern Avenue and Sunnybrook Road. The development would include a surgery center with eight operating rooms and three minor procedure rooms, a diagnostic clinic with imaging and lab equipment, and physician offices.

The goal is to make it simpler and faster for patients having minor surgeries and other outpatient procedures. Patients could park at the new center, about a third of a mile from the main hospital, rather than having to navigate the massive WakeMed campus. About 70 percent of outpatient procedures now done at WakeMed, such as tonsillectomies, would be handled at the new center.

Cardiac plan wins support

Johnston Health medical officials give top marks to a WakeMed partnership proposal to expand cardiac care in Johnston County, which has one of the state's higher death rates from heart disease.

Although hospital officials are also talking with Rex Healthcare and Duke University Health System about a potential partnership, they will first consider WakeMed's proposal, according to a presentation shown Tuesday night when hospital commissioners met behind closed doors with their strategic planning committee. According to the presentation, the medical staff is recommending the hospital begin negotiations with WakeMed "to develop a business plan for expansion of cardiac-care service."

On Wednesday, Johnston Health spokesman Jim Perpich said partnership deliberations were in the preliminary stage but acknowledged that WakeMed's proposal was ranked the highest by medical staff.

WakeMed's network grows

WakeMed has won regulatory approval to expand its North Raleigh facility and build new medical centers in Garner and Raleigh's Brier Creek area.

Officials with Wake County's largest hospital system are betting on increasing demand as the economy recovers and the region's population grows.

Expansions by other Triangle health systems also are continuing during the downturn, as UNC Health Care System and Duke University Health System request state approval to add services and win new customers. UNC in April proposed a $227 million, 68-bed hospital in Hillsborough.

WakeMed to cut 85 workers

WakeMed, the largest private employer in Wake County, plans to eliminate 85 positions by next week as the hospital system continues to cut costs during the recession.

In April, WakeMed CEO Bill Atkinson warned employees that increasing numbers of uninsured patients and shrinking reimbursement were forcing the Raleigh-based system to freeze pay and reduce other benefits. At the time, officials said those cost-cutting steps would help avoid layoffs.

But looking ahead to its 2010 fiscal year, WakeMed saw tougher times than it had expected.

Wake trying to gather funds for mental facility

After a year and a half impasse, Wake County may be moving closer to starting a mental health treatment center, but it's not a done deal yet.

The center is needed to provide short-term care when the Dorothea Dix state mental hospital closes in 2008. But the county has been stuck on how to pay for it.

Things may be beginning to change, though: