Archive for the 'Health & Medical News' Category
According to the 2009 "HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study", North Carolina scored well in all areas of the study, and Rex Healthcare in particular received the hightest overall score for clinical excellence.
The 12th annual study involved 40 million Medicare hospitalization records from 2006 to 2008, and reviewed mortality rates in several areas: cardiac surgery, coronary interventional procedures, critical care, gastrointestinal, heart attack, heart failure, pulmonary care and stroke. While North Carolina’s mortality rates fell in all areas in this study, there was significant improvement in cardiac surgery, pulmonary care and stroke.
Construction will begin this November on an expansion of the Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. The hospital needs new space to resolve a current problem with overcrowding, and to prepare for projected demand. The addition is estimated at about 850,000 square feet, and will be the location of a new cancer center (opens in 2012) and a new patient tower (opens in 2013). Total cost for the project is expected to exceed $700 million.
Duke University Hospital is highly regarded throughout the world for excellence in clinical services, research and training. In addition to its flagship hospital in Durham, Duke University Health System owns Duke Raleigh Hospital and operates Durham Regional Hospital.
Kiplinger.com, owned by the Washington-based personal finance publication, has conferred “favorite destination” status on North Carolina and 26 other states. The designation cites winning states as being the most tax-friendly places for retirees on pensions and Social Security.
Contributing to the favorable rating are North Carolina’s exclusion of Social Security payments from state income tax liability; a $4,000 ceiling on taxes for local government and pensions;, up to $2,000 exemption for private pensions; exemptions for prescription drugs and medical equipment; and a limit on property taxes for homeowners ages 65 and up to 4% of income.
Rex Healthcare has unveiled a new facility in North Raleigh. Located near the Wakefield community, the new hospital will provide services including cancer treatment, outpatient surgery, urgent care, wellness services and a sleep lab. In addition, the site will host medical offices for doctors.
Rex Healthcare of Wakefield, part of the UNC Healthcare system, joins the main campus hospital on Lake Boone Trail in Raleigh and Rex Healthcare of Cary, on Cary Parkway, in providing services to the major population centers of Wake County. The new hospital in North Raleigh will also serve nearby Wake Forest, Rolesville, Youngsville, Franklinton, and many residents of Franklin and Granville counties.
Doctors at the new location will have access electronically to the main Rex campus and to UNC Hospitals for regular teleconferences about care and new treatments.