Lee Co. one of fastest growing markets for FirstHealth

Nancy McCleary, The Sanford Herald, N.C.
·2 min read

Mar. 5—Lee County is one of the two fastest-growing markets for services provided by FirstHealth of the Carolinas.

Mickey Foster, a Lee native and FirstHealth CEO, gave a brief overview of the not-for-profit health-care system based in Pinehurst at the Sanford Area Growth Alliance at Monday's Public Policy Luncheon.

FirstHealth of the Carolinas ranks among the top 10% of all hospitals in patient services and satisfaction, based on various medical organization surveys.

The health care operation is comprised of numerous facilities and services in a 15-county region in central North Carolina including Moore, Lee, Hoke, Chatham, Montgomery, Richmond, Scotland, Randolph and Cumberland counties.

"Half of our patients do not live in Moore County," Foster said.

In Sanford, FirstHealth Convenient Care Clinics for walk-in urgent care needs are located in Tramway and on the campus of the FirstHealth Fitness Center on Beechtree Drive. A primary care clinic is on N.C. 87 iniThe FirstHealth clinic on Hwy 87/Horner Blvd. is a primary care clinic.

FirstHealth offers specialty care practices such as FirstHealth Cardiology with Pinehurst Medical Clinic, surgical specialties including orthopedics, urology, ENT and more with Pinehurst Surgical Clinic, OB/GYN services with Southern Pines Women's Health Center, the FirstHealth Fitness Center on Beechtree Drive and more.

FirstHealth also has a primary care clinic located in the 3100 block of South Horner Boulevard.

About two years ago, Foster noted, Lee Country Government opted not to renew a contract for Central Carolina Hospital to provide emergency medical services.

Instead, the county contracted with FirstHealth to provide emergency responders and services.

The move didn't go over well initially.

"One of the things I heard is you're doing this to take our patients to (Moore Regional Hospital)," Foster said. "Our intent is not to hurt the local hospital."

In fact, 91% of patients using FirstHealth EMS stay in Lee County for treatment, Foster said.

FirstHealth has 57 employees in the county and put a third ambulance base at the Carolina Trace Fire Department, he said. The others are Northview Fire Department and the main base on Central Drive.

The ambulances transported 6,000 people in 2023, Foster said, and while 3,400 Lee County residents were new to FirstHealth.

"And we've had 3,400 new patients from Lee County we had never seen before," Foster said.

Another 52,000 patients used the Fitness Center, according to Foster.