The Rotary Club recently visited Hartselle Medical Center to celebrate National Hospital Week. On hand for the event were David Burleson, Rotarian and HMC board member, and Tim McGill, market CEO for HMC. | Special to the Enquirer

Hartselle Medical Center has been recognized the Joint Commission for significant improvement and/or consistent high performance in various elements of the core measures, inviting the hospital to participate in a project to help other hospitals.

Core measures are a set of care processes developed by the Joint Commission to improve the quality of health care by implementing a national, standardized performance measurement system. The Core measures were derived largely from a set of quality indicators defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). They were carefully researched and have been scientifically shown to improve outcomes of patient care.

Hospitals that have dramatically improved and sustained their performance are being asked to contribute to The Joint Commission’s Core Measure Solution Exchange™, which was launched in April 2011.

“The Solution Exchange is designed to facilitate the sharing of success stories regarding how accredited hospitals attained excellent performance on core measures so they can learn from each other,” according to Mark R. Chassin, M.D., M.P.P., M.P.H., President of The Joint Commission.  “Through the Solution Exchange, hospitals that are struggling to improve their performance – especially on accountability measures – will be able to learn how their peers have attained and maintained their high ratings.”

“We are extraordinarily proud of this recognition at Hartselle, our commitment has been reinforced to  providing quality care and education for our patients.  Our physicians and employees strive each day to make our hospital the leader in quality care and this is a testament to their dedication to our goals,” said Tim McGill, Market CEO for Hartselle Medical Center.

The specific core measure(s) that the hospital was recognized for was:  Adult Smoking Cessation Advice Counseling.

In addition to this, HMC is continuing to improve the hospital through fulfilling its mission: providing outstanding service with compassion and professionalism.

In 2010, the hospital had 92 physicians, 187 employees, 4,200 volunteer hours, 1,549 admissions, 8,037 emergency room visits, 953 surgeries and treated 20,329 patients. The hospital has an impact of $14.7 million including wages, benefits, charity, uncompensated care, charitable donations and taxes paid.

The hospital is involved with the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce, Parter in Education, Relay for Life corporate sponsor, Community Free Clinic of Decatur-Morgan County and the Economic Development Association.

The hospital also had advancements including ER door to doctor time average of 23 minutes, improved inpatient satisfaction, upgrades to its surgery department and recruitment of new physicians.

In the future, it plans to add accreditation to its chest pain center, completing the Joint Commission accreditation, expand its gastroenterology coverage and other specialty services, promote newly recruited physicians, develop a nursing scholarship program, primary care expansion and continued development of hospital medicine.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.CapellaHealthcare.com.