GEORGIA ALLIANCE OF COMMUNITY HOSPITALS
P.O. Box 1572 · Tifton, GA 31793 · (229) 386-8660/(888) 461-5589 · Fax (229) 386-8662 · E-mail: kchavez@gach.org

Athens Regional Medical Center Named ‘Hospital of the Year’
By Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals

ATHENS, Ga. – Oct. 28, 2003 – Athens Regional Medical Center was named “Hospital of the Year” at the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals’ annual meeting on Oct. 23 at Callaway Gardens. Athens Regional won the honor in the large hospital category (151 beds or more).

Athens Regional received the award for supporting direct patient care through improving access for indigent populations, displaying innovation and high quality in the range of services offered, and demonstrating support from the local community.

“Athens Regional is an excellent facility providing outstanding care to the residents of Athens and its surrounding communities,” said Alliance President Monty M. Veazey. “The work being done in the areas of cardiovascular and cancer health is tremendous. The hospital, and everyone associated with it, is well deserving of this honor.”

The 315-bed Athens Regional Medical Center has served Northeast Georgia for more than 80 years. As the second-largest employer in the region, the hospital employs more than 2,800 people, serves 17 counties and contributes more than $500 million to the local economy. In addition, the facility provides more than $23 million in indigent and charity care to Northeast Georgians. Athens Regional has more than 600 community volunteers who donate more than 50,000 hours annually to the hospital and its patients.

Athens Regional’s cardiovascular program was named one of the top 100 in the country by the HCIA-Sachs/Solucient Institute for Excellence. In May, the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons accredited Athens Regional, an honor bestowed on only one of four qualifying hospitals.

In addition to the award, the hospital received a $1,500 cash prize from awards-sponsor Hayslett Sorrel LLC, the Atlanta-based public relations firm that serves the Alliance and many of its member hospitals.

Representatives from the Florida Hospital Association judged this year’s awards.

The Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals works for the best interests of community not-for-profit hospitals and Georgia’s health-care consumers. Its mission is to foster goodwill among community health-care professionals; to advocate the enactment of sound laws, rules and regulations affecting community hospitals; to conduct and disseminate research and to share ideas that improve the health-care delivery system in Georgia.

Contacts:

Johanna Blood
Hayslett Sorrel
770.522.8855, ext. 230
jblood@hayslettsorrel.com

Kim Chavez
Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals
229.386.8660
kchavez@gach.org