Poised to Continue Thriving

Written By: Tom Neal RN, MBA, MHA, CEO/CNO, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital | Issue: October 2024

I am committed to keeping our community updated about exciting things that are going on at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, such as news about the services we offer at the hospital, the important capital investments in our facility that HCA Healthcare makes continuously, community events and initiatives that we are participating in, new staff we are welcoming to the hospital, and more.

One of the most impactful developments at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital this year has been the resumption of orthopedic surgery after its close 10 years ago. We are providing arthroscopic surgery and total shoulder, hip, and knee replacements. We have had such great success this year that we are recruiting to make our services more accessible and are recruiting a physician assistant to support our surgeons.

We are also fortunate to have two outstanding general surgeons on staff, Dr. Zachary Phillips and Dr. James Osborne. They perform diverse procedures, including hernia repair, esophageal surgery, colon surgery, and breast surgery. Dr. Osborne is also fellowship-trained with hand surgery and is able to treat conditions of the hand, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger fingers. Both surgeons also provide colonoscopies, so if you’re due for this lifesaving screening, be sure to schedule it.

We also recently welcomed highly skilled plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Wenzel to our staff, who is offering elective plastic surgery procedures. A Western North Carolina native, Dr. Wenzel is highly esteemed and trusted. He is dual board-certified in head and neck and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and has been providing exceptional care to patients in the region since 2000. Patients can see Dr. Phillips and Dr. Wenzel in Highlands, and Dr. Osborne in Cashiers.

Two other important updates I can share are that the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital helipad recently earned its IFR (instrument flight ready) certification, a special Federal Aviation Association (FAA) accreditation to use our helipad with instrumentation only. What this means is that our ability to transfer patients needing critical care is the best and safest it can be. The patient transport crews have more options for dealing with unpredictable weather, which we all know is common in Western North Carolina.

It’s also important for our community to know about the significant, ongoing investment HCA Healthcare is making in Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, and how it enhances the care we can offer. I am happy to report that we have received:

• New state-of-the-art CT and MRI scanning machines with added funding to relocate the MRI scanner inside the hospital, so patients and staff no longer have to travel to another building from the hospital; this improves patient safety and comfort, and allows caregivers to work with more efficiency

• $300,000 to upgrade our kitchen equipment, including ovens and refrigerators

• Funding to acquire two Cerner Patient Observer (CPO) units, high-tech tools that enable providers to monitor patients virtually and identify those who are at high risk for falling; two-way communication capabilities allow staff to speak with patients and each other in real time

These facility improvements, new and talented staff, and the heart that every Highlands-Cashiers Hospital team member has for our patients contribute to our being ranked #1 for surgical experiences within HCA Healthcare and providing a truly outstanding experiences for both patients and families.