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Health Care
Halifax Regional Medical Center Continues to Improve Its Health Care Services
The newly renovated nursing unit at Halifax Regional Medical Center was a welcome change at the hospital.
As the only major hospital in a two-county area‚ Halifax Regional Medical Center faces a considerable challenge.
With a staff of 800‚ 60 physicians and 206 beds‚ it has provided high-quality health care since it was founded in 1912.
But with a largely rural patient population‚ a high percentage of whom are on Medicaid or Medicare‚ maintaining first-rate care and a healthy bottom line can be difficult.
“It’s a constant challenge to provide service to our community and do it efficiently‚ and still purchase equipment and pay market rate for salaries‚” says Val Short‚ Halifax Regional Medical Center vice president. “But it’s a challenge we know we have to live with.”
After much hard work‚ the medical center has seen a recent turnaround in its financial fortunes‚ she says. Last fiscal year‚ its bottom line was positive for the first time in years‚ under the guidance of President and CEO William Mahone‚ who joined the staff in late 2005.
“That served as a shot in the arm for us‚” Short says. “We want to stay strong and viable‚ and we feel very good about where we are going.”
Patients‚ too‚ share in the positive vibe at Halifax. The hospital recently completed renovation of two nursing units‚ making them brighter and better organized. while waiting areas were spruced up with new paint‚ wallpaper‚ lighting‚ furnishings and floor coverings.
The center has also just spent $1.7 million to acquire and house a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging unit to replace a mobile unit‚ dramatically improving imaging services for the community.
“It provides service to our patients 24 hours a day‚ seven days a week‚ where previously it was a part-time service three to five days a week‚” Short says. “It’s a very state-of-the-art machine that is not as confining as some of them can be‚ and it’s in a very comfortable setting similar to a doctor’s office. It makes the experience about as pleasant as it can be.”
Two new physicians also have joined the staff‚ adding to patient care.
Abrahan Chaparro‚ board certified in family practice‚ began working at the Roanoke Clinic in December 2006‚ and Dr. John Moss‚ an orthopedist with an interest in sports medicine‚ has joined the surgical staff.
Halifax Regional is working hard to meet its ongoing challenge‚ Short says. So much so‚ that when the hospital decided to freshen up its image‚ it added a new logo‚ a little color to its publications and Web site‚ but no new motto.
“We did a series of focus groups and tested several branding messages‚ but we couldn’t come up with anything we liked better than ‘Patients First‚’ ” Short adds. “It serves as a reminder to us of why we are here.”
Story by Laura Hill
© Copyright 2007 Journal Communications Inc.
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