The Heart, Lung and Vascular Center, based primarily at Grace Hospital, will offer advanced diagnosis and surgical and non-surgical treatment for heart disease, lung diseases, stroke, and diseases of the blood vessels outside the heart. A number of specialty clinics will be set up for patients with congestive heart failure, cardiac pacemakers and other heart and lung-related issues.

The plan will create Chest Pain Centers within the Emergency Departments at both Grace and Valdese Hospitals. In addition, both hospitals will offer cardiac rehabilitation, health education and community screenings and risk assessments, among other services.

Heart disease in Burke County is 2 1⁄2 times the national average, and over the past months BRHC has been piloting a Community Outreach Program with free health screenings to nearly 1,000 persons in Valdese and Morganton. Early results confirm that many people in the area are at significant risk for heart disease and related problems. The program will increase its pace as the new Heart, Lung and Vascular Center takes shape.