ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 10, 2012) – Mission Health is pleased to announce the opening of Mission My Care Plus, its newest comprehensive care practice in Candler, N.C. This practice is part of Mission Health’s vision for the future of healthcare and represents an innovative approach to the care delivery process.

Mission My Care Plus, located at 1388 Sand Hill Road, offers an alternative to traditional healthcare practices by bringing together a multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers to address the full spectrum of patient needs. The practice provides family care, pediatrics, physical therapy, minor procedures and a complete onsite pharmacy. Starting in November, routine prenatal care will be offered as well.

The broad range of services offered at Mission My Care Plus is not only convenient for the patient – it also allows physicians to provide necessary “point-of-service” diagnostics, such as X-rays and lab testing, with immediate results.

“Mission My Care Plus takes our existing processes and capabilities and re-configures them to address patient needs in a more logical, efficient manner. We are combining primary care and comprehensive ancillary services with education and prevention, to care for the “whole” patient in one convenient location,” said Marc B. Westle, DO, FACP, Senior Vice President of Innovation for Mission Health. “For example, our onsite pharmacy provides convenience for patients filling prescriptions, but more importantly it creates a central repository for their medications. This new model of care allows our pharmacists to actively participate in a patient’s treatment to ensure that the proper medicines are received and that no medicines negatively interact with one another.”

The atmosphere and design of the practice also play a role in providing the patient with the best possible experience. Paint colors were specifically chosen to create a relaxing environment, and aromatherapy, which uses essential oils, promotes a sense of calm and tranquility. Additionally, local artists, whose works are bright and uplifting, adorn the walls at Mission My Care Plus.

“Healthcare services that are convenient and close to home are more likely to be utilized, and healthcare problems are more likely to be addressed promptly – which will lead to better outcomes and healthier lives,” said Ronald A. Paulus, MD, President and CEO of Mission Health. “This is what we offer with Mission My Care Plus. Without question, this sort of innovative approach to healthcare will help us reach our BIG(GER) Aim: getting each patient to the desired outcome, without harm, without waste and with an exceptional experience.”

About Mission Health

Mission Health, based in Asheville, N.C., is the state’s sixth-largest health system and the region’s only not-for-profit, independent community hospital system governed and managed exclusively in western North Carolina. In 2012, Mission Health was named one of the nation’s Top 15 Health Systems by Thomson Reuters – the only health system in North Carolina to receive this recognition.

Mission Health, which traces its roots in the region back to 1885, operates five hospitals, numerous outpatient and surgery centers, and the region’s only dedicated Level II trauma center. Its medical staff consists of more than 1,000 physicians and is certified in over 50 medical specialties and sub-specialties. Mission Health has seven Centers of Excellence: Cancer, Heart, Mission Children’s Hospital, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Trauma and Women’s Health. Mission Hospital, located in Asheville, is the system’s flagship hospital and is licensed for 730 beds. It is the regional referral center for tertiary and quaternary care and is the busiest surgical hospital in North Carolina. It also includes Mission Children’s Hospital– the region’s only children’s hospital. Other Mission Health member hospitals include Angel Medical Center in Franklin, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, McDowell Hospital in Marion and Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard. With approximately 8,800 employees and 700 volunteers, Mission Health is dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the people of western North Carolina.