northeast medical center lo down?

Howdy! I am less than two weeks out from surgery (May 18 - it still doesn't seem real!) and I am interested in anything you can share about the facilities at Northeast Medical Center in Concord. What are the rooms like, where do your families stay during surgery and then during recovery, can a family member stay in your room with you , etc., etc., etc. Any and all info would rock! (Including any thoughts on the fact that this will be the day before the All Star Challenge and how the traffic will be as we drive up from Fort Mill the morning of the 18th). Thank you!

Robin, I can not predict the traffic coming up 77 in the morning but you should be fine once you get to 85. NEMC is awesome...the post surgical wing that you will be in is new....state of the art rooms...with these beds that can do most anything.... When they are preping you for surgery, one family member can go back with you...they will remain in the lobby area...someone will update them on your progress and there are rooms that the dr. can meet with them in.... In recovery, your family may come back one at a time....when you transfer to the unit...they will meet you upstairs... The rooms are large with a love seat....someone can spend the nite with you....the nurses are incredible....you will be pleased...

Hi Robin, Congrats your journey. I had my surgery there in 2006. I was recently there for surgery in 2006 and two weeks later in 2007 and all I can say is oh, my. They went from rinky dink rooms to suits. I don't know if you've ever been in a maternity suite but these new suites are huge! The room was done really nicely, they had new beds with speakers in the bed, my room was broken so I couldn'****ch tv without getting up and down. The bathrooms have roll into showers, there are nice cupboards with a flat screen tv, a pedal foot sink, i'm a compulsive hand washer. I think you'll be pleasently surprised. There is a pull out seating area and nice window, they will give you bedding if you need it. YOu can sleep in the room there is a place to put your stuff so it's not in the way and is store. Some comfy digs. I was jealous because of how awsome these new rooms are. Enjoy them. When I went in Dec it was a basic room and we packed all the clothes and things we might have needed for us and our 6 year old (no family in town), the first trip we brought everything and they didn't spend the night but came home to gastonia. The second trip (we didn't know the new suites opened) so we didn't bring anything extra, my daughter got new pj's at Kohl's but we didn't find out about the upgraded rooms until abou 1am when i was transfered from recovery into postop surgical. It's my understanding these rooms are only for Dr Bauman's patients and that dr bauman took over the develop and design of these room. They were awsome even though the tv hook up was broken. They didn't have a big plush bathrobe or slippers waiitng. It would be a nice neice maybe massage or nail painting. I get bored easily so I brought books, magazines, puzzle bucks and rearely did anything except read people magazine and make sure dr b saw my feet shuffuling alon so i could get out there, I don't like be confirned to hospitals. 4 times this year has been quite a bit for me to handle. Bring movies, books, bottle water, snacks for whose staying with you, some comfy shoes, I broght CROCS so when I walked the halls I'd have something with a cushion on my foot. There are plenty of places to talk and eat. You can easily gosomewhere in he hospital to eat and have some quite time eating. Good LUCk, your driving shouldn't be terrible, but I would really leave extra early because dr bauman is very good at being on time and doesn't like whe people are late forsurgery, Let me know if I can help in any ways and if you can lose some for me to. I'm here for any questions just let me know. This is a great month .

I'm a bit worried about the traffic myself. I don't think you'll have to worry with the traffic on the way to the hospital. However, I'm "scheduled" to be released on the 19th...the day of the all-star challenge and let's just say I'm looking for alternate routes to I-77 south. I live in South Park Charlotte. My surgery is on the 17th. I know a few different routes...like taking Hwy 3 over to Mooresville and hitting 77 South from there. I know it's way out of the way, but I think I'd rather be moving than stuck in traffic, in a car, with my mother behind the wheel. She doesn't do well in traffic.

Hi Robin and congrats on your surgery. I had my LapBand 2/23/07 at NE. I was a PA for 18 yrs and have worked at Duke, UNC, Central Carolina in Sanford, Carolina Med, New Hanover Reg., etc. NE is SUPERB!!!! I was sooooo pleasantly surprised at the spacious , new rooms- comfortable and amazingly quiet at night. The ward is laid out like a big cobweb- can easily walk and walk and walk- I walked the halls 5 times the night of my surgery and truly had NO GAS from walking. You will be pleased with the facility and the staff. I took flip flops for ease of slide on and I also took a walkman ( or Ipod) to be able to zone out and listen to my tunes. They did allow me to have hard candy post op- so I had the Crystal Lite pink Lemonade candies and the SF Lifesavers- they were awesome while still NPO.The guys in radiology were so nice the next day for my "leak test"- just very kind and compassionate. Good luck and we will be saving room here on the loser's bench, Sheila