$1.46 million federal funding awarded for UNC Health Blue Ridge cardiac lab expansion

During ceremonies last week, UNC Health Blue Ridge received more than $1.4 million in federal funding to replace aging cardiac catheterization equipment and expand its heart care services in Burke County.

U.S. Rep. Tim Moore presented on Jan. 30 $1,462,789 in Community Project Funding for the UNC Health Blue Ridge Catheterization Lab Replacement and Expansion.

The event was held on UNC Health Blue Ridge's Morganton campus.

“We are incredibly grateful for Congressman Moore’s support and advocacy for our community," said Gary Paxson, President & CEO. "This funding represents a critical near-term investment in our future, allowing us to strategically expand our cardiac catheterization services and provide a higher level of care right here at home. For our patients and their families, it means faster access to lifesaving care and fewer trips away from home during some of life’s most critical moments.”

The funding was approved as part of the federal Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations legislation.

Hospital officials said the funding will be used to replace existing catheterization lab equipment and to build out space for a second cardiac catheterization lab, allowing the hospital to better support its ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) program, which provides rapid treatment for patients experiencing severe heart attacks.

The expansion is expected to improve patient capacity, reduce treatment delays and strengthen emergency cardiac care for Burke County residents and the surrounding region.

Moore represents North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District, which includes Burke County along with Cleveland, Gaston and Rutherford counties and parts of Mecklenburg and Polk counties.

—AVN