Carolinas Medical Center - Features

Carolinas Medical Center is the flagship facility of Carolinas HealthCare System. As one of North Carolina's largest hospitals, it serves as the regional referral center for Western North Carolina and northern South Carolina. The hospital is one of only five facilities in North Carolina designated as an Academic Medical Center Teaching Hospital and a Level I Trauma Center. It operates a number of specialized centers and institutes, bringing together some of the finest medical personnel in the country to treat patients with specific diagnoses.

As one of five academic medical center teaching hospitals in North Carolina, Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, conducts residency programs in 12 medical and dental specialties and serves as an off-campus training site for three more.

The medical center, along with Carolinas College of Health Sciences and Mercy School of Nursing provide educational environments for more than 1,000 residents, medical students, physician extenders, nursing students and other allied health professionals annually.

With its updated facilities, sophisticated technology, and advanced basic science and clinical research, Carolinas Medical Center is a particularly exciting place for future primary care physicians and medical subspecialists alike. This degree of technology does not replace compassion, however, because we emphasize human values and a spirit of caring for all who need care, regardless of status or financial ability.

General visitor parking is located in the Blythe Parking Deck to the left of the main entrance. A nominal fee is charged per hour for parking.

Parking is validated for the first day and the last day of the patient's stay and for those having outpatient tests or procedures. Validation is available at the main lobby desk.

Reserved handicapped parking is available with wheelchair access to the main and third floor entrances.

You may be directed to park in other lots surrounding the medical center by the department you are visiting. Please check with the departmental receptionist for parking information.

Due to limited parking on the tower circle, we request that family members accompany the patient to the discharge waiting area and then retrieve their vehicles. At this time, parking will be validated.

Carolinas HealthCare System provides a high level of professionalism and technology but with the equally important human touch, and that's where you, as a volunteer, can be of great service. You can be a healing, high-touch presence at work in a high-tech environment. You can help alleviate the natural fears and apprehensions of the patient and their families by performing courteous and helpful services. You can help reduce isolation and stress of being hospitalized by delivering mail or flowers to a patient, filling a water pitcher, escorting a family member to the appropriate area, running errands or performing clerical duties for the staff.

If you would like to become a part of the many exciting opportunities available to healthcare volunteers, contact one of the locations. Remember, no matter how small a service may seem to you, it can be an integral part of the healing process.

Since its founding over 30 years ago - and most notably in the last decade - Carolinas HealthCare Foundation has steadfastly pursued a single goal: to advance health-related issues, programs and services in the Carolinas that ensure a better quality of life for others.

Carolinas HealthCare Foundation focuses its philanthropic efforts on initiating fund-raising projects that enhance wellness, medical education, research and the healthcare delivery system; oversees over 100 separate donor-restricted funds benefiting a wide variety of facilities and programs primarily within Carolinas HealthCare System (a self-supporting, public, not-for-profit healthcare provider). These funds support medical research, educational and outreach activities, special needs projects and facilities enhancements; and works to secure government and private foundation grants in support of special projects and activities at Carolinas HealthCare System.

If you would like more information or to discuss how to make a gift, contact us online or by telephone at 704-355-4048.