For Immediate Release
August 1, 2002
Contact:
Vicki Kirby
Marketing Coordinator
Augusta Medical Center
540/332-4969, 540/932-4969
vkirby@augustamed.com
AMC cited for Quality By U.S. News Third Year In A Row
Augusta Medical Center Again Named One of the Nation's "Best Hospitals"
Augusta Medical Center (AMC) has once again been recognized as one of the nation's "best hospitals" by the U.S. News in the magazine's 13th annual edition of "America's Best Hospitals."
The annual survey began looking at all of the 6,045 hospitals in the United States using several different measures. To be considered further a hospital has to offer at least nine out of 17 prescribed technological services, such as geriatrics, heart, digestive disorders, cancer, orthopedics, and ear, nose and throat. The list was then narrowed down to 1,958 hospitals nationwide.
Of the 17 medical categories evaluated, AMC ranked as one of the "Best Hospitals" in the country in three categories. For the third consecutive year, AMC earned recognition as one of the best hospitals in America for its Geriatric services - the geriatric award is based on the branch of health care that deals with the problems of aging and diseases of the elderly. According to the magazine, geriatric services require orchestrating treatment for serious and complex conditions. This year, AMC was also listed as one of the "Best Hospitals" in America for Digestive Disorders (which deals with the treatment for conditions such as colon cancer, ulcers, colitis, Crohn's Disease, diverticulitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease) and Hormonal Disorders (which includes the treatment for conditions such as diabetes, thyroid conditions and osteoporosis). Most of the top 50 hospitals are major metropolitan medical teaching hospitals, so AMC ranked in great company.
"To be ranked as one of the "Best Hospitals" in three categories out of over 6,000 hospitals in the country is a significant honor," said Dick Graham, CEO of Augusta Medical Center. "Our healthcare professionals and team members deserve a lot of credit for this recognition. We all are extremely pleased to be among the list of the nations finest institutions in the healthcare industry. Everyday our healthcare team provides some of the finest care around to meet the medical needs of our community."
"Once again it is a pleasure for Augusta Medical Center to be recognized for providing exemplary services for our growing senior population, as well as for our entire community," said Dr. Thomas L. Gorsuch, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Augusta Health Care.
Augusta Medical Center is a non-profit 255 bed, primary care facility with a medical staff of more than 225 active full-time physicians, over 1900 employees and over 700 volunteers. In 2001, AMC had over 12,000 admissions accounting for 54,000 inpatient days. There were over 50,000 emergency annual visits and over 250,000 outpatient and physician practice visits.
For more information on the selection of "America's Best Hospitals," please refer to the July 22 issue of U.S. News or the U.S. News website at http://www.usnews.com/usnews/home.htm and select "Best Hospitals."