In the Community: Hospital CEO Details Growth

Hospital Pres. Richard Brvenik

New Carteret General Hospital President Richard A. Brvenik was the featured speaker at Newport Rotary on Monday night, detailing numerous areas of need, necessary growth, and cost issues affecting medical care in our community. He was the guest of Newport Rotarian and Town Mayor Derryl Garner.

Mr. Brvenik stressed the hospital's mission to maintain quality as its highest goal. He stated that Carteret County presents a unique set of conditions for health care, including a disproportionately large senior population, but maintains an "11th healthiest" ranking out of the hundred North Carolina counties in a recent statewide study. He recognized that consumers have many health care options, but that Carteret General Hospital compares favorable with their competitors, and encouraged comparative research at http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov.  

Many improvements have been deferred over the years, and a significant investment in the hospital's infrastructure is needed to keep pace with the rapidly changing environment of health care, which includes projected mandates from The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare).

Artist Rendering of Proposed Carteret General Hospital Expansion

Discussed in more detail was the $53 million dollar proposed project that would build a new multidisciplinary, community based Cancer Center, affiliated with the UNC Lineberger Cancer Center; expand the Cardiac and Radiology clinics to include cardiac catheterization, build 68 new private rooms, a more visible front entrance, and Maternity ward improvements; invest in technology including expending the use of orthopedic robotics; create a Wound Care Center;  and, invest in significant information technology systems upgrades.

Mr. Brvenik responded to questions from Rotarians on the specifics of the project, including costs, timing, and the effect of new legislation, as well as the hospital's position on Taylor Extended Care Facility in Sea Level, which has recently been discussed in the local news. He was accompanied by Newport town resident John Davis, also a member of the hospital's Board of Directors.