News Release

Highlands Medical Center makes necessary changes
July 2, 2010

Scottsboro - Rumors circulating that Highlands Medical Center in Scottsboro is preparing to close its doors are unfounded.

The 170-bed facility is a part of the Jackson County Health Care Authority. The organization also operates Highlands Health and Rehab and Cumberland Health and Rehab. The hospital is home to a maternity center, imaging center, sleep disorders center, surgery center, therapy and sports center, and occupational medicine center and provides home health services.

The announcement that Highlands Cardiac Rehab and Total Health programs will no longer be offered fueled speculation that the hospital would be drastically reducing its services.

The medical center and non-profit health care authority is in good shape financially, according to Kim Bryant, CEO of Highlands Medical Center. It has not had major layoffs and does not anticipate any in the near future among its more than 400-member staff. One administrator’s position was eliminated in a cost-saving measure.

“The Cardiac Rehab and Total Health programs have been operating at a loss for a number of years,” Bryant said. “Ultimately we must do what is necessary to continue to provide quality healthcare to the people of this community. By streamlining our services we ensure that we will continue to achieve this goal.”

Cardiac rehab services required a physician referral after a heart event. The total health program provided top quality equipment in a comfortable environment for clients to exercise to prevent disease and improve quality of life in the presence of medical professionals. Membership was open to the public with the approval of a family physician. It was open six days a week.

“By ending this program we will ensure that Highlands Medical Center remains on solid financial footing. Although we will be discontinuing a service, we will be strengthening our finances, and becoming a leaner, more efficient hospital,” Bryant noted. “This decision will benefit our organization, our staff and the patients we care for in the future.”

Highlands has upgraded its technology to continue its commitment to provide quality healthcare for the people of Jackson County and surrounding areas. The medical facility has spent more than $1 million in the past month to upgrade its technology. It now has a non-invasive lithotripsy machine to break up kidney stones and a new 32-slice CT scanner that produces clearer images for better diagnostics. The hospital also has a C-Arm x-ray unit for minimally invasive surgical procedures.

Bryant said that the decision to close the Cardiac Rehab and Total Health programs was not made lightly. He noted that the JCHCA Board of Directors approved the decision and recommendation after reviewing a cost benefit analysis and consulting with Highlands Medical Center staff.

“Highlands,” Bryant said, “anticipates continuing to find ways to better serve our community.”