HEALTHCARE 

Anchoring the progressive health care network available to Chatham residents is Chatham Hospital - an organization whose motto reflects its unique character: "Large enough to serve your needs. Small enough to know your name."

A caring hometown approach coupled with state-of-the-industry care has endeared Chatham Hospital in Siler City to the public for nearly 70 years. Chatham Hospital is not only where residents turn for needed medical attention. It's an integral part of community life.

Chatham Hospital feels it is important not only to fulfill the health care needs of the community, but also to be an active part of the community. The not-for-profit hospital that got its humble start on an old homestead prides itself on its sponsorship of community events and special programs designed to meet the needs of all citizens.

Chatham Hospital is involved in many of the area's events, including the Chatham County Council on Aging's "A Taste of Chatham," the Relay for Life and the United Way campaign. Chatham Hospital is a nationally recognized health care provider fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Its accreditation rating ranks the hospital among the top 15 percent of accredited health care organizations in the nation.

To achieve that ranking and ensure it delivers the quality care the community deserves, Chatham Hospital continues to invest in its facilities and in a broad range of programs to serve patient needs. Among those are a state-of-the-art critical care unit, a medical-surgical floor and a day-surgery department. A 5,500-square foot emergency room is equipped with advanced diagnostic and monitoring equipment. It is staffed around the clock and serves more than 1,000 patients a month.

Among the hospital's more unique offerings are:
• A new state-of-the-art digital X-ray machine designed to improve patient care. One of only four comparable systems in the state, this new equipment improves test quality and reduces patient exposure to radiation.
• A mobile catheterization lab staffed by the UNC Hospital's Heart Center, allowing local residents to have sophisticated diagnostic care performed close to home.
• A new, bilingual diabetes education program that helps patients manage their illness. The program is nationally recognized by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
• Certified Spanish-language interpreters and lay health advisors to provide information and referrals and to facilitate ready access to health care by the community's growing immigrant population. This Immigrant Health Initiative works in coordination with many other agencies to ensure improved access to health care while taking into account cultural norms. The program works with local Hispanic churches, businesses and industries to get the word out.
• A doula program staffed by a team of 13 volunteers that provides free, bilingual support to mothers through the birth process, ensuring a more success-ful outcome for mother and child. The program is led by a nationally certified Latino birth coach - the first in Chatham County.

The nearly 170 employees of Chatham Hospital not only lead these nationally recognized programs, but also pride themselves in delivering care with a personal touch that reflects the community's character.

The hospital partners with local nursing homes, extended care and retirement care facilities to support the community's older residents and with the county's major local employers to promote health education in the workplace. In conjunction with the Chatham Council on Aging and with funding from the Duke Divinity School, the hospital supports a new "Caring for our Neighbors" program that provides home-bound patients with outreach services Ñ including pastoral visits and respite care designed to relieve family members' stress caused by an illness.

Also in Chatham County are two dozen medical offices including family physicians, internists, medical specialists, optometrists and dentists. Nursing homes, extended care and retirement facilities serve the aging with compassion.

Additionally, virtually any needed medical procedure is available less than an hour away at renowned facilities like the University of North Carolina Hospitals, Duke University Medical Center, Wake Med in Raleigh and Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro.

The University of North Carolina Hospitals (UNC) offers chronic disease treatment and life-saving surgeries. UNC is a recognized leader in health care and disease prevention. This facility has branched off to include a separate women's and a children's hospital.

With extensions in Chatham County and all services available close by, Chatham County residents benefit from the hospital's specialized care areas. Many of these servi- ces have garnered both regional and nation-al recognition. One such area is UNC's Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of a small number of National Cancer Institute-designated centers in the U.S. Other specialties of UNC Hospitals include:

• The Breast Center
• Cardiovascular Program
• Diabetes Care Center
• Lung Center
• Rehabilitation Center
• Spine Center
• Wound Management Program
• Comprehensive Transplant Center
• Arthritis
• Digestive Diseases
• Endocrinology
• EMT
• Gynecology
• Hemophilia
• Infertility
• Rheumatology
• Orthopedics

Duke University Health System is another world-class health care network that oper-ates in and around Chatham County. Duke University Medical Center is consistently ranked among the top 10 health care organizations in the country. The Duke system has an international reputation for innovation and excellence. Its range of services include: intensive care inpatient units, a regional emergency/trauma center with a separate pediatric emergency department, a major surgery suite with four open- heart operating rooms, the Duke Surgical Endosurgery Center, and an extensive diagnostic radiology area.