- Because our region is "graying." As of 2010, 21.5 % of our region's population - almost one in four - is 65 or older.
- Because our existing operating rooms on the Memorial Campus were near capacity.
- Because many of our older operating rooms were too small to accommodate the video monitors and technology required for today's advanced, and minimally invasive surgery.
- Because the standards for intensive care units have improved ...down to having windows in ICU patient rooms.
- Because today's lifesaving equipment needs facilities designed and equipped for it.
- Because it will enable Mission to continue to provide the nationally recognized quality that our region has come to expect. That we demand of ourselves.
Construction of the new wing enabled Mission to replace outdated facilities, many of which were more than 30 years old, with updated, state-of-the-art facilities designed for both today's and tomorrow's high-tech medical procedures - and timeless human need for surroundings that soothe.
Mission's newest wing for surgery, critical care, and more
As you drive onto the Memorial Campus, the first building you see is the new wing which opened in June, 2009. It was designed to offer spacious new critical care facilities, today's surgical suites - and comfort to families there for loved ones.
Surgical services
Our new family and patient surgical facilities are designed for convenience, comfort and clinical excellence.
Patients and their families drive straight up to the door to surgery registration - the same door they use when the patient goes home later in the day. They step into a waiting and registration area that celebrates the natural beauty of Western North Carolina with décor that incorporates natural wood and stone, rich colors, and plenty of sunlight.
The patient registration areas are secluded and private. From there, it's just a few steps to the 17-bed AM Admit unit, where patients are prepared for surgery in private areas. While they are undergoing their procedure in Mission's surgical suites, their families relax in the comfort of the new waiting area. Volunteers are there to answer questions and point out amenities, such as the nearby coffee shop and snack area so families don't have to leave the area.
When the surgeon comes to give a report, he or she meets with the family in private rooms just a few steps away. Meanwhile, their loved one recovers nearby.
For the patient, the new facilities offer benefits he or she may never be aware of - but the benefit is there just the same. Surgical suites equipped with up to date technology, including minimally invasive surgery. They are larger, to accommodate equipment and personnel needed for the procedure. Several rooms are specially designated and equipped for certain types of surgery, such as neurological. Recovery areas provide the care needed to keep patients comfortable and stable in the first hours after their surgery.
Heart surgery is performed in adjoining areas of the 5-story Mission Heart Center.
New Intensive Care Units
Critical care today is just as specialized as other areas of medicine. Two of our adult units are located in its new addition.
- The 14-bed Medical Surgical Intensive Care unit provides care for adults with complex and serious medical problems.
- The 14-bed Neurotrauma Intensive Care unit provides care for patients with serious traumatic injuries and those with serious neurological illnesses or trauma.
