News Release

Highlands ranks in top 2% nationally
July 24, 2009

Highlands ranks near top nationally
in patient experience


Highlands Medical Center was recently recognized for ranking in the top 2 percent nationally among all 3,578 hospitals in patient experience.
Highlands’ ranking is based on the 2009 VHA Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence, an annual award presented by VHA, Inc., a national healthcare alliance. The award is based on independent patient satisfaction survey scores compiled in the past year.
Highlands led all north Alabama hospitals and finished second in the state in the patient experience category.
“We encourage everyone who has traveled out of town for healthcare services that we provide to recognize this national award for what it is, and that is confirmation that Highlands Medical Center is at the forefront in modern technologies, plus we treat you like family,” said Kim Bryant, CEO of Highlands Medical Center. “I am so proud of our hospital staff and our medical staff. They constantly give their all for the people in our communities. There truly is no place like home.”
The VHA award honors hospitals that achieved high scores in all six of the following categories. Highlands’ state ranking is in parentheses.
• Doctor communications (#1 in Alabama)
• Nurse communications (#2 in Alabama, #1 in north Alabama)
• Responsiveness of hospital staff (#1 in Alabama)
• Pain management (#3 in Alabama, #1 in north Alabama)
• Communications about medications (#1 in Alabama)
• Discharge instructions (#7 in Alabama)
“To say we deliver compassionate, quality care is one thing, but to have it highly validated on the state and national level confirms that we are doing the right things in the right way for our patients,” said John Hawes, Chief Nursing Officer at Highlands.
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Highlands Medical Center is a 170-bed facility. Affiliated with Highlands are two long-term care and rehabilitation facilities, Highlands Health and Rehab in Scottsboro and Cumberland Health and Rehab in Bridgeport. Other healthcare services affiliated with Highlands include Highlands Home Health, Highlands Occupational Medicine Center and Highlands Ambulance. For more information on Highlands Medical Center, its services and physicians, please visit www.highlandsmedcenter.com.