FirstHealth of the Carolinas is a private, not-for-profit health care network serving 15 counties in the mid-Carolinas. Three hospitals comprise FirstHealth of the Carolinas: Richmond Memorial in Richmond County, Montgomery Memorial in Montgomery County and Moore Regional in Moore County.

In an effort to provide a multi-disciplined continuum of care, FirstHealth also offers inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs, three sleep disorders centers, three dental clinics for underserved children, seven family care centers, six health and fitness centers, four charitable foundations, a Hospice program in Moore and Montgomery counties, a Home Care program and a regional EMS system. In addition, FirstHealth operates a health insurance plan, FirstCarolinaCare, which offers a range of small- and large-group health benefit plans and serves nearly 11,000 members in its six-county service area.

Richmond Memorial Hospital

FirstHealth Richmond Memorial is a 99-bed, full-service community hospital dedicated to meeting the health care needs of the people of Richmond County and the surrounding area. Richmond Memorial provides a variety of services including a state-of-the art emergency department with full-time physician coverage provided by emergency medicine-trained physicians; a range of rehabilitation programs; a hyperbaric wound care center; inpatient and outpatient surgery including general, orthopaedic, ENT, urology and gynecology; full diagnostic services using some of the latest technology; and women’s and children’s services including labor and delivery. FirstHealth also offers Home Care and EMS services in Richmond County in addition to community health services, family care centers and a Center for Health & Fitness.

Richmond Memorial offers a range of physician specialties including Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Podiatry, Urology, Orthopedics, Pulmonary, OB/GYN, Otolaryngology, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Neurology, General Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Radiology, Anesthesiology and Pathology.

RMH Campus

Since the completion of the FirstHealth Richmond Medical Plaza, the list of tenants occupying the two-story, 40,000 square-foot building continues to grow.

Lauren Alter, M.D., of FirstHealth Richmond Medical Group-Internal Medicine opened her practice in the new medical plaza in November 2009. This office space will accommodate three providers.

Occupying 1,700 square-feet in the new medical office building is Dr. David Arnold’s chiropractic practice, First Chiropractic Care. This well established practice has been serving the chiropractic needs of Richmond County for more than 60 years and relocated their offices from Hamlet.

Also setting up new office space in the FirstHealth Richmond Medical Plaza are the Richmond county offices of Pinehurst Surgical Clinic. The new location offers Pinehurst Surgical orthopedic and ENT patients and guests easy and convenient access to the hospital, enhanced parking, and a pleasant and relaxing reception area.

“We are excited about the growing list of tenants moving into the new medical office building,” says John Jackson, president of FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital. “Richmond Medical Plaza was designed to meet the needs of the Richmond County medical community by providing state-of-the-art office space for physicians and other health care professionals.”

Pediatric MRI with Sedation Offered at RMH

MRI is short for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. MRI is often used to obtain specific diagnostic information not provided by other imaging technologies such as computed tomography (CT), ultrasound and X-ray.

Movement will cause the MRI pictures to be blurred. Most children under the age of 10 years are unable to hold still for the length of time required to complete the scan. The use of sedation medication will help the child go to sleep and remain motionless and comfortable during the scan.

This service is offered by FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital.

Sedation is administered through a small IV that is placed in the child’s hand before he or she enters the exam room and that remains in place until the exam is completed. Sedation is performed and is monitored by an anesthesiologist.

MRI uses a strong magnet and radio waves to generate images based on the amount of water in body tissue. The exam itself is a painless procedure that is noninvasive.

Some MRI scans require the use of a contrast medium, also referred to as gadolinium. Gadolinium, which is given intravenously, highlights certain body parts so the radiologist can better see abnormalities.

An MRI scan can be used as an extremely accurate method of disease detection throughout the body.

For more information about pediatric MRI with sedation at Richmond Memorial Hospital, call (910) 417-3370.

Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center

FirstHealth Richmond Memorial’s comprehensive wound care program includes state-of-the- art treatment for non-healing wounds such as diabetic ulcers, lower leg ulcers, pressure ulcers, bone infection, gangrene, skin tears or lacerations, radiation burns, post-operation wounds and infections, and failed or compromised skin grafts. Wounds, due to their complex nature, require an individualized course of treatment to promote healing.

The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center at Richmond Memorial offers the expertise and technology to support the needs of patients.

For more information on the FirstHealth Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center located at “http://www.firsthealth.org/About%20FirstHealth/Richmond%20Memorial/index.htm” orcall (910) 417-3636.

Needs of Women

The Women’s Imaging Center at Richmond Memorial offers state-of-the-art diagnostic services performed by an exceptional group of staff members who collaborate with local physicians in providing imaging services that are used exclusively for women including mammography, ultrasound and bone density testing for osteoporosis. All of these services are provided in one convenient area.

The center features updated mammography equipment, including CAD (Computer Aided Detection) software, and new generation ultrasound equipment. In addition to improved technology, the center streamlines the diagnosis process and next steps, if needed.

Richmond Memorial is committed to meeting the health care needs of women and providing convenient access to services specifically for women.

Voice disorders

Mid-Carolinas Surgical Associates is using a special videostroboscopy instrument to assist in the diagnosis of patients who visit the practice. This equipment provides a detailed view of the appearance of the vocal cord movement and vibration.

The procedure for which the new instrument will be used, called a stroboscopy, creates a slow-motion effect that allows the surgeon to identify very small lesions and abnormalities in vocal cord movement. Irregularities can be easily observed in real time and recorded on videotape.

“Assessment of vocal cord activity with videostroboscopy will provide patients with the best technology to diagnose and treat their voice disorders,” says Andrew Doolittle, M.D., board-certified ear, nose and throat physician with Mid-Carolinas Surgical Associates.

For more information on the new procedure, call (910) 417-4368.