WRMC HOSPITAL OPERATING CORPORATION

THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A 130 ACUTE CARE BED HOSPITAL, INCLUDING A 10-BED SKILLED NURSING UNIT, PROVIDING MEDICAL, EMERGENCY, AND OUTPATIENT CARE SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF ALLEGHANY, ALEXANDER, ASHE, CALDWELL, IREDELL, SURRY, WATAUGA, AND WILKES COUNTIES. THE ORGANIZATION SERVES AS A SATELLITE PROVIDER OF ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST (AHWFB) SPECIALTY SERVICES AT ITS NORTH WILKESBORO CAMPUS, INCLUDING CARDIOLOGY, IMAGING, ENT, GASTROENTEROLOGY, NEPHROLOGY, NEUROLOGY, OB/GYN, OPHTHALMOLOGY, PATHOLOGY, PEDIATRICS, ORTHOPEDICS, AND UROLOGY. THE ORGANIZATION IS ACCREDITED BY THE JOINT COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS AND HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO SERVING THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF WILKES COUNTY SINCE 1952. DURING CALENDAR YEAR 2023, THE HOSPITAL FACILITY HAD APPROXIMATELY 17,200 PATIENT DAYS, INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 4,000 ADMISSIONS, AND APPROXIMATELY 29,800 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES NUMEROUS RESOURCES, ACTIVITIES, AND PROGRAMS TO SERVE THE HEALTH NEEDS OF ITS COMMUNITY. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: --FAITHHEALTHNC AN INITIATIVE THAT CONNECTS THE CARING STRENGTHS OF CONGREGATIONS, THE CLINICAL EXPERTISE OF PROVIDERS, AND A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO EASE THOSE ON THE JOURNEY TO HEALTH AND HEALING WHILE STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES IN THE PROCESS. THERE ARE FAITHHEALTH CONNECTORS IN DAVIDSON COUNTY THAT SERVE MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS AND GIVE VOICE TO HEALTH DISPARITIES IN THE COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING THE MEDICAL CENTER.-- ATHLETIC TRAINERS CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINERS (ATC), PROVIDED BY AHWFB, WORKS FULL-TIME IN THE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN WILKES COUNTY THAT HAVE ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. THE ATC'S WORKS WITH STUDENT ATHLETES AND THEIR COACHES TO HELP KEEP THE ATHLETES SAFE AND HEALTHY AND TO TREAT AND HELP REHABILITATE SPORTS-RELATED INJURIES. -- CARE CONNECTION PHARMACY PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FREE AND DISCOUNTED DRUGS TO THOSE UNABLE TO PAY FOR MEDICATIONS. IN RECENT YEARS, GRANT FUNDING RECEIVED FROM THE NC HEALTH AND WELLNESS TRUST FUND COMMISSION WAS USED TO UPGRADE THE TECHNOLOGY AND FUNDING OF THE PHARMACY. FOR EACH DOLLAR INVESTED IN THE PROGRAM, AN ESTIMATED $9 RETAIL VALUE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR QUALIFYING CITIZENS OF WILKES COUNTY. THIS PROGRAM ENABLES PATIENTS TO STAY COMPLIANT WITH THEIR MEDICAL TREATMENT PLAN AND REDUCE THE OCCURRENCE OF READMISSION. AHWFB-WMC ALSO SUPPORTS A SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAM (SEP) AT THE PHARMACY. IN ADDITION TO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, THE HOSPITAL REGULARLY REINVESTS FUNDS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES AND STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. HOSPITAL LEADERSHIP WORKS DIRECTLY WITH THE WILKES MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION TO IDENTIFY AND VALIDATE GRANT PROPOSALS THAT ADDRESS ITS COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT. ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST LAUNCHED A NEW VIRTUAL SERVICE TO BETTER AND MORE QUICKLY MEET THE NEEDS OF PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED AT THE HEALTH SYSTEM'S HOSPITALS IN NORTH WILKESBORO AND LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA. IN 2023, ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST WILKES MEDICAL CENTER ADDED COMPREHENSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER (SANE) EXAMS FOR PATIENTS 16 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER. SANE NURSES ARE REGISTERED NURSES WHO HAVE UNDERGONE ADDITIONAL, SPECIALIZED TRAINING TO CARE FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HEALTH EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT. PRIOR TO OFFERING THIS SERVICE, PATIENTS WHO EXPERIENCED SEXUAL ASSAULT HAD TO BE TRANSFERRED TO ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER IN WINSTON-SALEM, NC TO RECEIVE A COMPREHENSIVE FORENSIC EXAM BY A TRAINED SANE NURSE. HAVING THESE SERVICES AVAILABLE LOCALLY ALLOWS PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE SAFE AND MORE COMPASSIONATE CARE TO ALREADY VULNERABLE PATIENTS. ALSO IN 2023, AHWFB BEGAN INSTALLING WALK-THROUGH METAL DETECTORS AT EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE HEALTH SYSTEM, INCLUDING ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST WILKES MEDICAL CENTER. THE REGISTRATION AND METAL SCREENING PROCESSES ARE PART OF AN OVERALL STRATEGY TO CREATE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT BY MINIMIZING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR VIOLENT EVENTS INVOLVING WEAPONS. AMNESTY BOXES ARE ALSO INSTALLED OUTSIDE OF THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS FOR PATIENTS AND VISITORS TO VOLUNTARILY DISCARD PROHIBITED ITEMS, SUCH AS KNIVES AND FIREARMS, BEFORE THEY ENTER.