Quick Search

Forsyth Medical Center (FMC) announced today plans for more than $95 million dollars in facility expansions on its main campus to meet the region's growing demand for health care services. The expansions, scheduled to begin this year will include a five-floor, $67 million addition to the new North Pavilion and a new $28 million visitor/employee parking deck.

These expansion projects are in addition to FMC's new $66 million women's center approved by the state earlier this month, an $18.2 million Emergency Department, a $13.5 million intensive care unit and a $4 million medical technology building scheduled to be completed this year.

According to Sallye Liner, executive vice president and COO of Forsyth Medical Center, the new facilities are a result of the growing need for women's health care services, the increased demand for cardiac care and the future need for specialized care for the region's aging population.

In 2003, surgeries at FMC increased 6.3% to 29,685, emergency department visits increased 3.1% to 78,000 and the medical center had 40,207 inpatients, an increase of 5.3% over 2002.

"The demands on our region's health care resources have continued to increase significantly over the last several years," says Liner. "But because of the changes in health care reimbursement in 1997 most hospitals have not had the resources for facility expansion to keep pace with the need. Forsyth is fortunate to be able to reinvest in our campus, increase our technology and add patient care facilities."

Liner says the expansion may create as many as 100 new patient care and health care service-related jobs at FMC over the next three years.

"The employment and economic contribution made to our community by Forsyth Medical Center and Novant Health is critical to help us transition our economy and provide good jobs for our citizens," says Gayle Anderson, president of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce. "This project is one of the largest expansions ever in our county and will enhance our community's position as a leader in the health care industry."

FMC filed the required certificate of need (CON) with the state on March 15 for approval of the North Pavilion expansion. Additionally, FMC filed a CON for a fourth CT scanner and a seventh cardiac catherization lab.

Forsyth Medical Center is one of seven hospitals that are part of Novant Health, a not-for-profit healthcare system based in North Carolina. In addition to Forsyth Medical Center, other hospital affiliates include Medical Park Hospital in Winston-Salem and Thomasville Medical Center in Thomasville; also Presbyterian Hospital, Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital and Presbyterian Hospital Matthews in the Charlotte area. Other facilities and programs of Novant Health include three philanthropic foundations, two nursing home and senior residential facilities, physician clinics, outpatient surgery and diagnostic centers, rehabilitation programs and community health outreach programs.

Novant Health has been nationally recognized as the "Best in Industry for Working Mothers" by Working Mother Magazine and one of the "Top 40 Family-Friendly NC Companies" by Charlotte Parent and Piedmont Parent magazines. Additionally, Novant Health was named to the 2002 SMG Top 100 Integrated Healthcare Networks in the country.