Doctor’s Memorial Hospital earns national recognition for rural health care
Healthcare professionals at Doctor’s Memorial Hospital in Taylor County are being thrust into the spotlight for their impressive performance last August when Hurricane Idalia disrupted life in that rural community.
The hospital is making history by becoming the first Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare affiliate to be recognized as one of the nation’s Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals by The Chartis Center for Rural Health.
In a release, Michael Topchik, National Leader for the Chartis Center for Rural Health, said the ‘Top 100 rural hospitals' strive to provide a unique outlook on ways to identify both innovation and inspiration for delivering high quality care to vulnerable populations.
“We’re delighted to be able to recognize all this year’s Top 100 recipients but especially the more than 40 first-time recipients across both categories,” Topchik said. “It’s wonderful to see so many new facilities join the ranks of our Top 100 alumni.”
When Hurricane Idalia left its scarring mark on Taylor County in August 2023, Doctor’s Memorial Hospital served as the primary emergency healthcare destination in Perry.
Healthcare providers never denied a service, despite facing challenges as a direct impact of the storm. State health officials requested that a group of 14 National Disaster Medical System personnel from the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response would assist the local staff with treating patients in the emergency department.
Within a span of eight days after the storm transpired, the team treated about 325 patients. The challenge proved to be successfully met by Lauren Faison-Clark, who was named CEO two months earlier. Faison-Clarke said this recognition means a lot to her team, who truly earned their spot on the Chartis INDEX.
“We are proud to provide local access to quality care in our community,” Faison-Clark said in a release. “This year we have been working hard to create a culture of excellence and it is so validating to have that work recognized by Chartis.”
Under Faison-Clark’s tenure as CEO, the hospital also has introduced an animal therapy program, upgraded its CT advanced imaging capabilities, and welcomed North Florida Women’s Care and Tallahassee Podiatry Associates clinics.
Calhoun Liberty Hospital also recognized
A second Tallahassee Memorial Hospital affiliate also found its way to the Chartis Top 100 charts for the first time. Calhoun Liberty Hospital earned a placement on the list of Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals.
Since Hurricane Michael left its devastating effects in 2018, the hospital has found itself focusing on growth and improvement. In a release, Calhoun Liberty Hospital CEO Chris Jepsen said this recognition is a testament to the strong team of dedicated professionals they have.
“Our facility has faced many challenges over the past several years and this honor shows that we have persevered and are poised for success in 2024,” Jepsen said.
Chartis was launched 14 years ago to bring focus to rural hospitals. It partners with organizations like Healthscape Advisors and Jarrard to address critical priorities in the industry. Chartis uses publicly available data to measure and monitor performance across areas stretching from health operations to finances.
Democrat writer Mycah Brown can be reached at MJBrown@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Two TMH-affiliated regional hospitals honored for rural health care
