When Blue Ridge HealthCare came to Burke County in 1999, the healthcare system became the county’s second largest employer and brought a new standard of healthcare to residents.

Today, Blue Ridge includes hospitals, long-term care facilities, a retirement community, a full-service wellness center and more.

Blue Ridge continues to expand, bringing the finest healthcare possible to Burke County.

This year marked the beginning of monumental projects at both Valdese and Grace Hospitals.

The Blue Ridge HealthCare Board of Directors spent three years planning a multi-million dollar expansion at both hospitals.

Construction at Grace will cover 46,000 square feet.

The expansion will create a two-story parking deck, outpatient center, a heart and women’s care center. Renovations will include a pediatrics unit and patient rooms.

Valdese Hospital, now with 350 employees and 172 beds, will gain a 53,000 square foot addition.

Valdese Hospital's new construction will replace the existing Spender Hall at the north end of the hospital. It will house medical staff and health information management facilities, a pharmacy, a rehab area, education space, the housekeeping department and a new two-story outpatient entry lobby at the lower lever.

The outpatient center will weave the new and renovated buildings together into a comprehensive outpatient facility.

Renovations will include expanding the current cancer center, emergency department and recovery room as well as update the pain management center, the main lobby and inpatient rooms.

Construction and expansion will build a better quality of life for Burke County said Ken Wood, president and CEO of Blue Ridge HealthCare.

“We are going to do this by keeping our promise to equip our facilities to deliver 21st century medicine; to create centers of excellence to treat the specific health problems affecting our citizens and to recruit the physician specialists our community needs,” Wood said. “We can and we will change the way healthcare is delivered in Burke County.”

Jim Hatley, chairman of the board of directors, said the goal is for Grace and Valdese hospitals to be the best community healthcare centers in America.

— Brianne E. Boykin and Ragan Robinson