Charlotte’s high-quality business community, housing, schools and cultural amenities leave no doubt that the same standards would apply to health care. And, in fact, the region is flush with excellent health-care providers and a broad, sophisticated network of professionals and organizations offering everything from primary and emergency care to preventive maintenance and high-tech procedures.

No matter where you live around Charlotte, you’ll find excellent health-care facilities nearby. As the city has grown, hospitals, physicians’ groups and other health-care providers have expanded beyond Uptown to also serve the suburbs. Health-care services in neighboring counties have expanded as well.

While you can still find traditional fee-for-service practices, managed care is widely available and accepted here. The area has many health-maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs) and point-of-service (POS) plans. Of course, the managed-care plan you pick will influence your choice of physicians, so check that program’s rules before you select your new physicians.

In recent years, many smaller practices have consolidated, while hospital-affiliated management groups have purchased others. So, these days you’ll find more and more Charlotte-area physicians practicing in large clinics. Nevertheless, you can still find a few physicians in solo or two-doctor practices. The city also has many health-care professionals in fields of specialty ranging from dentistry and chiropractic to optometry and podiatry. If you need nonemergency care but don’t yet have a family physician, you can visit a minor-emergency or urgent-care center.

If you need hospitalization, managed care probably will dictate your choices here as well. Charlotte has two major hospital systems - Carolinas HealthCare System and Novant Health/Presbyterian Healthcare. Both systems grew as a result of a push toward integrated systems that help keep costs low. They offer excellent treatment and are continually expanding to provide a full range of services in order to satisfy managed-care contracts and solidify their patient base. Together, the two systems operate MEDIC, the county’s ambulance system.

Carolinas HealthCare is the largest healthcare system in the Carolinas and one of the largest publicly-owned systems in the county. As the flagship hospital with 777 beds, Carolinas Medical Center is located at the edge of Myers Park.

In 1906 the Sisters of Mercy established Mercy Hospital, which became part of the Carolinas HealthCare system in 1995. Located in the Elizabeth neighborhood, CMC-Mercy houses 305 beds within its facility.

Carolinas Medical Center opened CMC-Pineville off Park Road and Highway 51 in 1987 and CMC-University in 1985. Both facilities serve the growing suburban areas of Charlotte.

The other healthcare giant in Charlotte is Presbyterian Healthcare, an affiliate of Novant health. The flagship hospital, off Hawthorne Lane in Elizabeth, began as a 20-bed hospital in 1903 and has grown to 593 beds and 64 bassinets. For the past 50 years, Presbyterian has also operated Hemby Children’s Hospital, dedicated solely to pediatric care. Presbyterian Orthopedic Hospital is hailed as the top hospital in the state for joint operations. Off Highway 51, Presbyterian Hospital Matthews is a 240,000-square-foot facility with 102 private patient rooms.

In recent years, many hospitals in nearby counties have grown and expanded. Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in Mooresville opened a $41 million facility near I-77 in 1999. Presbyterian Healthcare expands its facilities in 2004 with the opening of Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville. Other hospitals in the area are adding services, such as Gaston Memorial’s new Birthplace and Presbyterian’s New Women’s Center, which also open in 2004. Carolinas HealthCare is currently planning Levine Children’s Hospital, which will open in 2007.

If your health insurance plan dictates which hospitals you must use, make note of them when you seek referrals for care. If you have the opportunity to choose which hospitals you wish to use, take some time now to research Charlotte’s institutions so you’ll be well equipped to select the one you prefer should the need arise.

GERRY BROOME/CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

Charlotte Area Hospitals
Carolinas Medical Center
1000 Blythe Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28203
704-355-2000
http://www.carolinas.org/

Charlotte Institute of Rehabilitation
1100 Blythe Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28203
704-355-4300
http://www.carolinas.org/

Gaston Memorial Hospital
2525 Court Drive
Gastonia, NC 28054
704-834-2000
http://www.gastonhealthcare.org/

Kings Mountain Hospital
706 W. Kings St.
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
704-739-3601

Lake Norman Regional Medical Center
171 Fairview Rd.
Mooresville, NC 28117
704-660-4000
http://www.lnrmc.com/

Mercy Hospital
2001 Vail Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28207
704-379-5000
http://www.carolinas.org/

Carolinas Medical Center - Pineville
10628 Park Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28210
704-543-2000
http://www.carolinas.org/

NorthEast Medical Center
920 N. Church St.
Concord, NC 28025
704-783-3000
http://www.northeastmedical.org/

Piedmont Healthcare System
222 S. Herlong Ave.
Rock Hill, SC 29732
803-329-1234
http://www.piedmonthealth.com/

Presbyterian Hospital
200 Hawthorne Ln.
Charlotte, NC 28204
704-384-4000
http://www.presbyterian.org/

Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville
(open late 2004)
Gilead Rd.
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-384-2273
http://www.presbyterian.org/

Presbyterian Hospital Matthews
1500 Matthews Township Pkwy.
Matthews, NC 28105
704-384-6500
http://www.presbyterian.org/

Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital
1901 Randolph Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28207
704-375-6790
http://www.presbyterian.org/

Presbyterian Specialty Hospital
1600 E. 3rd St.
Charlotte, NC 28204
704-384-6000
http://www.presbyterian.org/

Union Regional Medical Center
600 Hospital Dr.
Monroe, NC 28111
704-283-3100
http://www.unionregional.org/

University Hospital
8800 N. Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC 28256
704-548-6000
http://www.carolinas.org/