Business

Park Ridge breaks ground on $10 million medical center at Biltmore Park

Park Ridge is building a $10 million medical center across from Biltmore Park in Arden.

By Bill Moss, Published: April 8, 2013

Park Ridge Health plans to open Park Ridge Health at Biltmore Park, a $10 million state-of-the art medical center, in 2014.

The center will host many of the area's primary and specialty care physicians, and will provide extended hours and weekend access for care along with imaging and lab services under one roof, Park Ridge said in a news release.
The Park Ridge move raises the stakes in an increasingly robust — and costly — competition among Pardee Hospital, Mission Health and Park Ridge, the Adventist Health System-owned health care provider in Fletcher. All three providers are trying to position their core hospitals, satellite clinics and physician practices to take advantage of a potentially larger pool of covered patients under the Affordable Care Act.
Pardee and Mission are jointly building a medical campus on the county line in Fletcher, which will also include an urgent care clinic, a new YMCA and diagnostic services.
Park Ridge broke ground on the new facility Tuesday.
Park Ridge Health at Biltmore Park will house 16 physicians in a four-story 25,000-square-foot medical center that will feature balconies on the third and fourth floors offering views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The site was selected to provide convenient access, off I-26 across from the entrance to Biltmore Park, a news release said.
"When we open our doors in 2014, this will be the new medical home for thousands of patients who have already partnered with Dr. Denise Ingram, Dr. John Lang, Dr. Teresa Bradley, Dr. Leah Swann, Dr. Ron Johnson and Dr. Wade Grainger for their ongoing health care needs," said Jason Wells, Vice President for Physician Services at Park Ridge Health. "Additionally, we believe thousands more will make this their new health care home as they will now have access to many of the area's leading specialists in one strategically designed facility. Park Ridge Health will offer primary care and secondary care through specialties including Cardiology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Neurology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology. I believe what we are creating in the Asheville area is unprecedented, namely, a unified network of primary care physicians and specialists all sharing a common electronic medical records system, providing world-class coordination of care and serving patients side-by-side at a convenient location."
"Park Ridge Health has provided primary care services at Biltmore Park and the surrounding area for many years, and this new medical center represents a strategy to consolidate many South Asheville physician practices into one cost-efficient location," said Jimm Bunch, President & CEO of Park Ridge Health. "With this innovative project, we can maximize the services we offer to the community, continue to raise the bar in quality of service and ease access to care."
"This project is yet another example of Park Ridge Health's unwavering commitment to providing leading-edge health care services and facilities for our community," said Carlo Mainardi, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.R., Chief Medical Officer for Park Ridge Health. "It is a tremendous investment at a challenging time in health care, but we believe that choice in health care options is critical and remain passionate about meeting the needs of our community."
The modern building was designed by local Asheville architectural firm Bowers, Ellis & Watson. The design team focused on creating an environment to support health and healing, while using industry-leading walls and windows to insulate the building and minimize environmental impact. The site will also feature extensive landscaping with indigenous, drought resistant plantings, as well as low-glare site lighting to reduce light pollution at night. The stone for the building was locally quarried in Fletcher.
Park Ridge Health partnered with Asheville's H&M Constructors for the Biltmore Park project, and has exhibited a strong effort to utilize local construction teams for the creation of the facility.
The new facility will employ more than 50 team members, including medical assistants, lab and imaging technicians, and registered nurses. "Park Ridge Health continues to be a major economic engine for the region, investing more than $300 million in salaries and benefits into the community over the past five years for the 1,200 team members who serve our region with distinction," said Karsten Randolph, Chief Financial Officer for Park Ridge Health.
"Park Ridge Health places significant importance on each patient's experience, and because of that, we are eager to open this new medical center," shared Camy Horrell, Director of Park Ridge Experience. "We have designed the building and experience completely with each patient in mind. Along with the new state-of-the-art facility, Park Ridge Health will offer online appointment scheduling, optional text messaging reminders and same-day access to care for our patients. This type of care in a non-congested convenient location, along with comprehensive medical services under one roof, is a desire that is continually expressed in our community."
The community is invited to a groundbreaking ceremony for Park Ridge Health at Biltmore Park on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at the construction site, which is located directly off I-26, Exit 37, across from Biltmore Park. Many of the physicians who will serve patients at Park Ridge Health at Biltmore Park will be taking part in the ceremony and are already taking new patient appointments at their current locations in Biltmore Park and the South Asheville area. To establish care now with a physician who will serve in the new medical center, please call 855.PRH.LIFE.