President's Message

As the incoming president of the Burgaw Area Chamber of Commerce it’s part of my mission to encourage area residents to support the businesses here.  Buying locally is not only neighborly, it is critical to helping build a community that supports the needs of those who live and work locally.

The “buy local” theme is often repeated at Chamber events.  We all want to support each other.  Need a florist, a banker, a barber?  Don’t take your business outside of Pender County; we need that business to stay here.  If you spend your money in the community it helps a local person keep their doors open and they, in turn, can support their families, schools and churches – and other local businesses.

I often have to remind people that the same can be said for supporting their local hospital.  Pender Memorial Hospital is a critical part of our community.  One that should not be taken for granted.  Pender Memorial Hospital is a designated Critical Access Hospital because it is more than 35 miles from the next nearest hospital.  The government has recognized that it is important to keep hospitals like Pender open to ensure people in rural areas have access to life-saving care when they need it.

Of course, a hospital needs to do more than stay open to provide top-notch care.  It needs to have the strength that comes from having a robust array of services and skilled physicians, mid-levels and other clinicians.  I’ve written before about the strength of our physician community.  I would also like to brag about the skills and caring of our staff.  Just a few weeks ago I received a wonderful letter from a physician who had just done a procedure at PMH for the first time.  With years, if not decades, of experience doing this procedure at other facilities, he said the skill, compassion and professionalism of the surgical staff at PMH were among the best he had seen.

We also have great people providing care in our skilled nursing and swing bed units and the emergency department.  You can also find our staff, often your neighbors, providing excellent care in our outpatient rehabilitation and diagnostics facilities in Rocky Point.

But like any business, for us to grow in the depth and breadth of services we can provide, we need your support.  The next time you need a procedure, a mammogram, or any number of medical services - urgent or otherwise - check us first.   There is a lot we can do locally and our close affiliation with New Hanover Regional Medical Center means if you or a loved one needs services outside of Pender we will seamlessly coordinate your care to help ensure you get the care you need, when you need it.

We’re all part of the same community.  Let’s continue to support each other in whichever business or service we’re in.