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For immediate release:  November 20 , 2007

Study finds high ratings for patient care at Haywood Regional Medical Center

HealthGrades study places Haywood Regional Medical Center the best in N.C. for critical care and GI services, among the top 5% in the nation for GI surgery, treatment and overall services, and among the top 10% in the nation for pulmonary care.
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CLYDE — Haywood Regional Medical Center has received five-star rankings in 25 areas, according to a comprehensive study released by HealthGrades™, the nation’s leading healthcare ratings company. The rankings were based on predicted outcomes.

In addition to the five-star rankings, the study concluded that HRMC ranks best in North Carolina for overall critical care and treatment for gastrointestinal services.  HRMC also ranks in the top 5 percent of hospitals in the nation for overall gastrointestinal services, in the top 5 percent in the nation for gastrointestinal surgery, and in the top 5 percent in the nation for gastrointestinal medical treatment.

HRMC ranks among the top 10 percent of hospitals in the nation and among the top 10 hospitals in the state for overall pulmonary services; and in the top 10 percent of hospitals in the state for general surgery.

“I am extremely proud of the team effort involved in achieving this level of excellence,” said David Rice, president and chief executive officer for Haywood Regional Medical Center. “The dedication to quality from our employees, physicians and volunteers is a top asset for our hospital. Everyone at HRMC is to be commended for their efforts and accomplishments,” Rice said.

According to the Tenth Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study, Haywood Regional Medical Center received the following recognitions:
  • Recipient of the HealthGrades Pulmonary Care Excellence Award™
  • Recipient of the HealthGrades Gastrointestinal Care Excellence Award™
  • Recipient of the HealthGrades Gastrointestinal Surgery Excellence Award™

Haywood Regional Medical Center also received five-star ratings in the following service areas:
  • Cardiology — treatment of heart attack, treatment of heart failure and treatment of atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm).
  • Critical care — treatment of sepsis, a condition characterized by inflammation caused by infection; and treatment of respiratory failure.
  • Gastrointestinal services — overall gastrointestinal services, gastrointestinal medical treatment, treatment of bowel obstructions, treatment of gastrointestinal bleed, and gastrointestinal surgeries and procedures.
  • General surgery — treatment of bowel obstruction.
  • Pulmonary services — overall pulmonary services, treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and treatment of community acquired pneumonia.

The HealthGrades’ study identifies key trends in the quality of care provided by about 5,000 hospitals nationwide. Researchers analyzed Medicare discharges from every U.S. hospital between 2004 and 2006. Risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates were calculated and hospitals were assigned a 1-star (poor), 3-star (as expected) or 5-star (best) quality rating for 28 diagnoses and procedures — from heart failure to hip replacement to pneumonia.

Haywood Regional Medical Center was established in 1927 as the first county hospital in North Carolina. The current facility opened in 1979.  HRMC is now a 190-bed not-for-profit public hospital. HRMC is the third largest employer in Haywood County, with more than 900 employees. A total of 137 physicians and 39 allied health professionals are on HRMC’s medical staff, representing 28 specialties.

Individual hospital quality results from this study are available at www.healthgrades.com.