Now Featuring – The Heart Center

ED and Heart Center progress update, March 13, 2023

As Catawba Valley Medical Center’s new Heart Center nears completion, we’re excited to share updates on the progress of construction and the significant positive impact the changes will have on how we care for our patients.

The new Heart Center is designed to support patients who have experienced a cardiac-related emergency by consolidating services into one designated area so that life-saving care can be administered more efficiently. The newly constructed area will support a decreased length of stay for patients, improve safety for staff and patients, and better accommodate the population of Catawba County.

A portion of the new Heart Center opened on March 15, allowing patients and staff to experience the relocation of our cath lab and electrophysiology lab. Each of the labs will include upgraded, state-of the art equipment, be larger than our current labs to serve growing patient volumes, and be accessible from the main Emergency Department to ensure timeliness in treating patients with chest pain.

Other exciting changes include the relocation of our existing invasive labs, which will improve diagnostic services. The new heart center will also have a dedicated care team with prep and recovery patient bays to better accommodate patient safety, as well as an oversized patient bay for special non-invasive procedures.

Additionally, staff will have upgraded support spaces and secure work areas, a physician reading room, dedicated areas for our administrators and technicians to ensure privacy of patient information, secured areas to promote safety for both patients and staff, a dedicated waiting room for imaging services, and a dedicated consultation room for physicians to use when sharing plan of care and visual reports with patients and their families.

The Heart Center project is part of a larger construction project that includes the expansion of our current emergency department. This project comprises five phases, and is expected to span through April 2024.

To learn more, visit CatawbaValleyHealth.org/HeartOfTheCommunity.


ED and Heart Center progress update, July 21, 2022

As this first of five phases of construction for our expanded Emergency Department and new Heart Center comes to a close, we’re excited to see the impact that these additions will have on patient care and experience. The first phase of construction will bring nine new state-of-the-art treatment spaces including trauma, decontamination, isolation, and bariatric rooms. In addition, a new dedicated space for behavioral healthcare will make a partial debut in phase one.

“We’re excited to begin moving in next week, and start transitioning the space over to our care teams who will care for our patients that entrust us with their lives,” said Scott Echelberger, CVHS senior vice president.

During the second phase of construction, which is set to begin this month, patients will begin to see more changes to our existing Emergency Department and Cardiac Care areas such as the closure of our Fast Track, and a new corridor from the ED to the main tower of the hospital. In addition, new, advanced cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology labs will open along with associated support spaces. The total Emergency Department and Heart Center project comprises five phases that are expected to span through 2023. We're excited to upgrade our hospital to serve as the heart of the community!

To learn more about our expanded Emergency Department and new Heart Center, visit us online at CatawbaValleyHealth.org/HeartOfTheCommunity.


ED and Heart Center progress update, May 12, 2022

On May 5, 2021, we broke ground on our expanded Emergency Department and new Heart Center. Now, more than a year later, we’re beginning to see these spaces take shape – walls are built, windows have been installed, and flooring is currently being laid.

The average number of patients per day seen in our Emergency Department is far greater than when it was originally built. A new layout of the facility will create more treatment areas outfitted for a wider variety of care options, allow for expanded services to treat bariatric patients, as well as a separate and more fully equipped area for psychiatric patients. The 1st phase of the new Emergency Department is projected to open later this summer, and a portion of the new Heart Center to open by early 2023. We're excited to upgrade our place as the heart of the community!

We’re excited to begin providing updates and information on the newest additions to our health system. To learn more, keep an eye on our Facebook page, follow us on Instagram @CatawbaValleyHealthSystem, or visit us online at CatawbaValleyHealth.org/news.


ED and Heart Center Project Renderings

Once the expanded Emergency Department and New Heart Center are completed at Catawba Valley Medical Center, the addition is projected to look like the renderings above. The 1st phase of the new Emergency Department was completed this summer, and a portion of the new Heart Center is expected to open by early 2023.