Hospital of the Year
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Georgia's community hospitals face an incredible array of challenges - from Medicaid cuts and legislative struggles to nursing shortages and an ever-expanding universe of uninsured patients. With the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals' “Hospital of the Year” award, we seek to salute the entire industry for its perseverance in meeting these and other challenges, and particularly, to honor those institutions whose creativity, innovation and effectiveness set new standards of performance and service.
Each year the Hospital of the Year Award is presented to two facilities that have made extraordinary strides and exhibited exceptional achievement within their health system and community. Winners are selected in two categories: Small Hospital (150 licensed beds or less) and Large Hospital (151 licensed beds or more). Hospitals nominated for this award must support direct patient care through improving access for indigent populations, demonstrate support for and from the local community and be innovative in the range of services offered.
The winners shown here exemplify what the Hospital of the Year award is all about.
Small Hospital of the Year.
Memorial Hospital and Manor, Bainbridge, was recognized as the best small hospital (150 beds or fewer.) The Alliance recognized Memorial Hospital and Manor for the hospital's outstanding support of community health through innovative programs that improve access to medical care and community outreach programs. These include school nursing and athletic training programs in the county's public schools; a high school healthcare apprenticeship program; community health fairs; an Associate Degree in Nursing program; a community weight loss competition; and, the hospital's Camp JOY summer camp for disabled children.Image: (L-R) Jim Peak (Executive Director, Memorial Hospital and Manor), Charlie Hayslett (CEO, Hayslett Group), Monty Veazey (President, GACH)
Large Hospital of the Year.
Floyd Medical Center, Rome, won GACH's 2008 Hospital of the Year award in the large hospital category (more than 150 beds). The Alliance recognized Floyd Medical Center for multiple outreach programs that improve access to healthcare, including the Floyd County Clinic for low-income, uninsured residents; the “We Care” program for low-income, uninsured patients with chronic health problems; the Free Clinic of Rome; a comprehensive dental clinic for low-income residents; a new Mobile Mammography Unit; and, services such as the hospital's Crisis Intervention Stress Management team.Image: (L-R) Charlie Hayslett (CEO, Hayslett Group), Kurt Stuenkel (CEO, Floyd Medical Center), Monty Veazey (President, GACH)
Small Hospital Runner Up.
Emory Healthcare's Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital, Atlanta, won the first runner up award in the small hospital category. Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital serves more than 30,000 seniors in Georgia and surrounding states and was ranked 11th in the nation by US News and World Report for geriatrics. The hospital initiated a Patient-Family Centered Care advisory board to better work with patients; earned an award from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research for work on developing new therapeutic strategies; and, provided through its Foundation nearly $2 million in charitable care to cover unreimbursed expenses for seniors who have outlived their savings or family.Image: (L-R) Charlie Hayslett (CEO, Hayslett Group), Jen Schuck (Assistant Administrator, Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital), Monty Veazey (President, GACH)
Large Hospital Runner Up.
Gwinnett Medical Center, Lawrenceville, won the first runner up award. The Alliance recognized the organization's drive to provide outstanding benefits and expand critical healthcare services. Their efforts include the Miles and Lib Mason Children's Clinic, which treated more than 33,000 uninsured and underinsured patients; the Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing program – also known as the ImPACT program for youth and high school athletes; an eight-story tower that will add 129 new beds; and a campaign to bring open-heart services to Gwinnett County.Image: (L-R) Tom Shepherd (Sr. VP Planning & Development, Gwinnett Medical Center), Charlie Hayslett (CEO, Hayslett Group), Tommy McBride (Sr VP & CFO, Gwinnett Medical Center), Philip Wolfe (President & CEO, Gwinnett Medical Center), Monty Veazey (President, GACH)
