With more than 1,500 employees, Pardee is the second largest employer in Henderson County. Composed of a state-of-the-art cancer center, a comprehensive physician practice network, four urgent care locations, three rehabilitation and wellness centers, 11 primary care practices, six employer-based clinics, and six orthopedic clinics, Pardee’s medical staff represents more than 40 specialties. 

Managed by UNC Health, Pardee has the advantage of the many benefits of a statewide health organization while retaining decision making power at a local level. Pardee is led by a Board of Directors that is composed of residents who live and work in Western North Carolina, and includes two seats appointed by the Henderson County Board of Commissioners.

Pardee UNC Health Care’s specialties include its High-Risk Breast Clinic, cancer research clinical trials, and cardiovascular care. Pardee cardiologists work jointly with Henderson, Transylvania and Polk County EMS to provide ongoing training to staff so they can care for a heart attack patient the moment they arrive on scene and then work in tandem during transport to begin initial treatment.

The rural nature of the WNC region can result in difficulties reaching people in remote locations that may lack transportation. Lower access to the internet that could be useful for virtual visits can also be a challenge. Pardee and other providers have a system in place to notify each other during times of needed support. There may be some specialties or services that Pardee or one its area healthcare providers may not provide. In emergent situations, Pardee is able to receive a patient, assess their situation, stabilize them and if warranted, have EMS transport them to the appropriate facility. This collaboration also includes two physicians that support the Emergency Department in Polk County at all times. 

While the unique location in Western North Carolina can present challenges, the region’s culture and climate also attract top talent from across the country who wish to locate to this community.

That being said, John Bryant, Vice President of Workforce Development for Pardee UNC Health Care said that Pardee has found that the region at large has lost talent even as the population has grown.

“Pardee is choosing to invest in our existing talent and in our community,” Bryant said. “Much of our efforts have been aimed at engaging with talent historically underserved by our industry. Customer service is difficult in any industry, and we have been very successful in training retail talent to be the face of our organization to patients in our hospital, clinics and practices.

“We have engaged with high school students just beginning their clinical careers and obtaining nursing assistant certification from the public school system,” Bryant said. “We have found success in establishing nursing teams that include Licensed Practical Nurses, allowing our in-demand Registered Nurses to operate at the top of their licenses and delegate those tasks they can.”

Pardee has established several courses to help people already in the workforce gain additional education for potential advanced career opportunities. “We have organized new paid training courses through our Pardee Pathways program in close partnership with Blue Ridge Community College,” Bryant said. “Participants in these courses are hired by Pardee and paid for their instructional time as well as during their hands-on clinical training. Students can join our organization, earning and learning, without interrupting their careers. This helps us extend the excellent career opportunities at Pardee to those who may find it difficult to juggle additional education with their families and full lives.”

Bryant also believes that retention of existing employees is just as important, if not more, than the recruitment of new talent. “I believe our region is facing systemic pressures we all must acknowledge and address if we are to stem the flow of vital talent pools from our region, and to replace those who retire each year,” Bryant said. “Housing prices in this region have become untethered from economic fundamentals in the labor market. In response to these pressures, Pardee has made wage adjustments costing more than $2 million dollars annually, specifically to protect those at or near our minimum wage.”

Pardee is also expanding its primary care, urgent care, and specialty services throughout Henderson, south Buncombe, Transylvania and Haywood Counties to meet the community’s growing needs. Pardee expanded its cardiac service by becoming a Percutaneous Coronary Intervention designated hospital able to treat heart attack patients around the clock. Pardee is one of only two hospitals in Western North Carolina able to provide this level of care. 

On Sept. 1, Pardee UNC Health Care’s 11 primary care practices serving Henderson, Buncombe and Transylvania Counties became Pardee BlueMD. The change in name supports Pardee’s recent change to become a sub-recipient within Blue Ridge Health’s designation as an Federally Qualified Health Center. Pardee UNC Health Care and Blue Ridge Health continue their long-standing relationship and commitment to continued innovation to reduce gaps in care, create a more seamless care delivery model, and improve patient outcomes, while maintaining independence within their respective organizations. Under the FQHC model, each Pardee BlueMD practice will provide comprehensive, culturally-competent, quality primary healthcare services to all patients, regardless of ability to pay.

In early 2023, Pardee plans to partner with surgeons across the region to open The Surgery Center at Mills River on the Pardee Mills River Campus. Pardee officials said the stand alone surgery center, which will include options for orthopedic, ophthalmology, gynecology, oncology,spine surgeries, and more will be the first of its kind in Henderson County. The 17,000-square-foot facility will house 10 prep and recovery and six post-anesthesia care unit bays.