From the 1995 edition of The Times-Register
Lewis-Gale has been a part of the Roanoke Velley for nearly a century, and for the past 20 years has been an important business partner in Salem. As an employer, community supporter and tax payer, Lewis-Gale Hospital plays a vital role in the well-being of individuals and the community as a whole.
As the only tax-paying hospital in the valley, LewisGale sends it dollars back to the community in the form of roads, fire and safety, and schools. The hospital has contributed in the past five years more than $3.5 million in taxes to Salem alone, not including state and federal taxes.
The 376-bed facility is the only area hospital offering services under the same roof and was recently honored for its quality of health care. The Joint Commission on Accreditation and Healthcare Organizations awarded Lewis-Gale with an “Accreditation of Commendation” – the organization’s highest honor.
That distinction gives Lewis-Gale the unique and distinguished accomplishment of being the valley’s only medical-surgical facility to attain the honor. In fact LewisGale has achieved the honor two times in a row. But the greatest honor, is that more than 98 percent of the patients Lewis-Gale treats would choose the hospital again.
With that dedication to be on the cutting edge of the healthcare field in mind, Lewis-Gale recently brought a new cardiologist on staff. Dr. Claude Nadeau, specializing in electro physiology, expands the hospital’s service – and shows the ongoing desire to provide the latest in technology and qualified personnel to its facility.
From cardiology to its cancer center, from women’s health and obstetrics to rehabilitation, Lewis-Gale Hospital is noted for its centers of excellence. The programs consistently draw interest on a regional basis as well as across state lines. The hospital’s orthopedic surgeons have been sought out by medical personnel from other counties on techniques, training and treatment.
Among the services offered at the hospital are emergency care, general medicine and surgery, sophisticated diagnostics, intensive care, neurosurgery and other inpatient/outpatient services.
The hospital’s five centers of excellence include the Lewis-Gale Regional Cancer Center, which is affiliated with the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center; the Lewis-Gale Regional Rehabilitation Center, the nation’s only center with real-life East Street modules and a driving simulator; the Lewis-Gale Maternity Care Center, the valley’s only birthing option for mothers who choose to remain in one room throughout their stay; the Lewis-Gale Cardiology Services, offering open heart surgery; and the Lewis-Gale Orthopedic Services, known internationally for its advanced techniques.
The Lewis-Gale Clinic has more than 140 physicians with programs including occupational and executive health, the Arthritis Center, the Virginia Spine Center, the Sleep Center and Health Management Services. The clinic has a dozen satellite locations.
Also, the Lewis-Gale Psychiatric Center’ programs include alcohol and drug, adolescent, adult and senior and Christian therapy. Satellite counseling programs are offered in six different centers, from Bluefield to Lexington.
At Lewis-Gale Hospital, a new maternity program is providing lower labor delivery charges for both the mother and baby. Lewis-Gale’s charge for a normal delivery is now just $2,800, well below the up to $4,000 that a normal delivery can cost at other facilities. That allows parents to have less out-of-pocket expenses and a more manageable bill. Included for all mothers who deliver there is a free follow-up home visit by one of the hospital’s maternity nurses, who checks on the progress of both the mother and her child.
At the Regional Cancer Center, every aspect of cancer care is addressed by the specialized team of professionals. From the medical to spiritual and emotional needs, the unique need of each patient is undertaken with compassion and expertise by the staff.
In addition, the affiliation with the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center allows Lewis-Gale’s patients access to the latest advances in treatment, research and clinical trials.
In addition to its comprehensive inpatient services, the Lewis-Gale Regional Rehabilitation Center offers and intensive day rehabilitation program for patients recovering from trauma, stroke or major orthopedic surgery. The new services provides comprehensive physical, occupational and speech therapy options previously available before only through hospitalization.
The program provides the ideal transition between hospital and home for many severely injured patients and allows for therapy to help the patient re-ender community life that traditional outpatient therapy didn’t fully address. Each patient’s therapy program is tailored to the specific needs of the individual.
Lewis-Gale participates with most area managed care plans. And, as part of its ongoing services to the community, the hospital offers MedLine, a service that puts healthcare information at area residents’ fingertips. Just a phone call away, MedLine allows you to get referrals to physicians, set appointments, or get information on a health problem.
For more information call Medline at 1-800-422-0345 or (703) 776-4863.
- Prepared by Lingjie Gu
