Rockdale Medical Center was awarded LifePoint Hospitals' highest honor, the High Five Award, at LifePoint's annual hospital leadership conference on March 10 in Nashville, Tenn.
LifePoint Hospitals, of which Rockdale Medical Center is a part, honored the top five of its 61 hospitals that performed most impressively in 2013 in the areas the company calls its "High Five Guiding Principles." Those are:
• Delivering high quality patient care
• Supporting physicians
• Creating excellent workplace for our employees
• Strengthening our hospitals' role in their communities
• Ensuring fiscal responsibility
The award was accepted by the hospital's leadership team on behalf of the entire hospital staff. With the award, the hospital received a check from LifePoint in the amount of $100,000 to be used to invest in facility improvements and technology as the hospital continues to grow and enhance its medical services.
Among Rockdale Medical Center's many successes in 2013, it was selected as a Hive Five winner for:
• Maintaining strong operational performance
• Improving physician engagement and physician satisfaction scores
• Recruiting 11 new physicians
• Receiving Primary Stroke Center certification by The Joint Commission
• Earning recognition as a Top Performer in Key Quality Metrics by The Joint Commission
• Being recognized by Consumer Reports as a top performer in Surgical Safety metrics
• Exceeding Hospital Engagement Network goals for enhanced quality and patient safety
"Since joining LifePoint Hospitals five years ago, we have been given the opportunities and financial capital to invest in hospital service lines, programs, equipment and staff to better meet the healthcare needs of our community," said Deborah Armstrong, Rockdale Medical Center CEO. "For example, last year, we opened a new Level III NICU and, most recently, we earned Primary Stroke Center certification from The Joint Commission. These programs allow us to provide the same high quality care found in downtown Atlanta locally in our community."
Along with the investment of $33.5 million in capital dollars into the facility, the sale of the hospital to LifePoint in 2009 meant the transition from a non-profit, tax-exempt entity to a business that pays more than $1.8 million in annual property and other taxes to the county. These tax dollars go back into the community to support schools, law enforcement, and public works. With a staff of approximately 1,200 people, the hospital is one of the largest employers in the county and has a payroll of nearly $60 million dollars annually.
Armstrong said, "Our hospital's strong focus on quality, service and safety by our employees and medical staff has produced exceptional results and ultimately improved access to quality care in our community. We are very proud to carry the spirit of being a High Five award winnerand are committed to making our community healthier."
Rockdale Medical Center is a 138-bed acute-care hospital fully accredited by The Joint Commission which evaluates hospital patient care for quality, safety and value. Rockdale Medical Center is part of LifePoint Hospitals, a community hospital company with 62 hospitals nationwide.
