News Release:
Oct. 21, 2008
Wesley Woods Hospital Recognized as One of State's Top Small Hospitals
Emory University's Wesley Woods Hospital has been recognized as one of the best small hospitals in the state by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals (GACH) during the organization's 2008 annual meeting at Callaway Gardens.
Wesley Woods won the first runner up award in the small hospital category (150 or fewer beds) in GACH's 2008 Hospital of the Year awards.
"This recognition certainly underscores the challenges we face as both a society and healthcare provider in treating an unprecedented growth in elderly patients and the many different facets of society that are impacted by this growing population," says Al Blackwelder, chief operating officer for Wesley Woods Center. "I am happy to share this distinction with our faculty, nursing staff and patient care professionals, and thank them for their work within the many different programs we are uniquely situated and qualified to provide."
Wesley Woods was recognized for the following highlights from 2007-2008:
- Was ranked 11th in the nation by U.S. News and World Report for geriatrics
- Initiated a patient-family centered care advisory board to better understand and work with patients
- Earned an award from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research for work on developing new therapeutic strategies for treating Parkinson's
- Through its Foundation, provided nearly $2 million in charitable care to cover un-reimbursed medical expenses in the past year for seniors who have outlived their savings or family
- Co-hosted the "Sharing in the Caring" conference, which provides education and information to non-clinical caregivers
- Created a virtual tour of the hospital for potential patients and family members of patients
"The Alliance is pleased to honor Wesley Woods Hospital for its innovative service," says Monty M. Veazey, president of the Alliance. "The hospital's administration, staff and physicians exemplify the spirit and creativity of Georgia's not-for-profit hospitals."
About Wesley Woods Center and Wesley Woods Hospital:
Wesley Woods Center of Emory University includes Wesley Woods Hospital, a 100-bed geriatric specialty facility. Founded by the United Methodist Church and Emory University, Wesley Woods Center serves more than 30,000 older adults and chronically ill individuals each year. In addition to the hospital and a 25-bed inpatient hospice service, Wesley Woods has an outpatient primary care clinic, a 250-bed skilled nursing care facility, and a 201-unit residential retirement facility, with one floor of 18 units dedicated to personal care. Wesley Woods Hospital, part of Emory Healthcare, is a 100-bed geriatric hospital that houses an 18-bed long-term acute care hospital and provides care to one of the more underserved populations. Last year it served more than 30,000 seniors in Georgia and surrounding states and provided more than $3.4 million in un-reimbursed charity care.
About the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals (GACH):
The Alliance works for the best interests of community not-for-profit hospitals and Georgia's healthcare consumers. Its mission is to foster goodwill among community healthcare 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 healthcare delivery system in Georgia. For more information, visit the GACH Web site at www.gach.org.
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The Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center of Emory University is an academic health science and service center focused on missions of teaching, research, health care and public service. Its components include schools of medicine, nursing, and public health; Yerkes National Primate Research Center; the Emory Winship Cancer Institute; and Emory Healthcare, the largest, most comprehensive health system in Georgia. The Woodruff Health Sciences Center has a $2.3 billion budget, 17,000 employees, 2,300 full-time and 1,900 affiliated faculty, 4,300 students and trainees, and a $4.9 billion economic impact on metro Atlanta.
Learn more about Emory’s health sciences:
Blog: http://emoryhealthblog.com
Twitter: @emoryhealthsci
Web: http://emoryhealthsciences.org
