It is a very exciting time at CRMC. “The hospital’s growth in service area and increase in volume, particularly from inpatient visits, support the need for the expansion.”CRMC Board Chair Judy Butler-Patterson
CULLMAN – On Wednesday, Jan. 27, Cullman Regional Medical Center (CRMC) hosted its annual State of the Hospital event, where CEO James Clements announced a 30-bed expansion and Dr. Vincent F. Bergquist was named Healthcare Professional of the Year by the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce.
Clements announced during the State of the Hospital report that the Alabama Department of Public Health granted approval for CRMC to develop and implement a three-year plan for the 30-bed expansion.
“It is a very exciting time at CRMC,” said CRMC Board Chair Judy Butler-Patterson. “The hospital’s growth in service area and increase in volume, particularly from inpatient visits, support the need for the expansion.”
The board acquired the 30 additional beds when Woodland Medical Center was purchased in 2009; however, they had not been able to present a viable or immediate plan to put the 30 beds into service until now. The Health Care Authority Board is currently working with architects to help develop plans for the expansion.
“In 2015, we saw a 7 percent growth from inpatient admissions and 2 percent growth in outpatient visits,” Clements said. “This growth not only justifies the need for the expansion, but also validates the quality of care delivered by our team of doctors and nurses.”
The expansion will be approximately 35,950 square feet and will become the hospital’s fifth level, located on the east wing. The expansion will create about 30 additional jobs to start with, and up to 100 more as volume growth continues. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2017 and should be completed in the fall of 2018.
Hospital officials say the expansion will enhance patient experience in a number of ways. There will be more private rooms available and a decrease in wait times for beds upon hospital admission. It will also decrease ER wait times and improve patient safety during peak admission hours. The community will reap the benefits of the creation of additional jobs.
The Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce’s Healthcare Professional of the Year award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to healthcare in the community. This year Dr. Vincent F. Bergquist is that person.
“Throughout the years, Dr. Bergquist has introduced new procedures to Cullman, including the newest, computer-assisted total joint surgery,” said Chamber Chair Jason Grimmett. “He takes pride in making sure the people of Cullman receive the highest level of care. This is likely why he has served on various hospital committees and accepted leadership roles, some of which include: Chief of Orthopedic Surgery from 1992-1999 and 2004-2007, Chairman of the Surgery Department from 2000-2003 and Medical Staff Executive Committee from 2008-2015, including two years as Medical Staff President in 2012 and 2013.”
Humble and sincere, Bergquist accepted his award and said a few words.
“I am very honored to receive this award, and also very surprised,” said Bergquist. “But I thank you very much for it.” He spoke of all the great things the hospital has done over the years since he first began working there in 1977 and said he is looking forward to the expansion and continuing his work at CRMC.
In other news, in December 2015, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ranked CRMC in the top 10 percent of hospitals in the nation in reducing hospital-acquired infections out of more than 3,000 hospitals surveyed as a part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
“At CRMC, our physicians and clinical staff strive daily to provide our patients with the highest level of quality care,” CRMC Chief Quality Officer Charna Brown, RN, said. “We are proud to have these efforts recognized nationally.”
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), hospitals nationwide experienced a 17 percent decline in many hospital-acquired infections from 2010 to 2014. This translates to 87,000 lives saved and nearly $20 billion in healthcare costs averted.
“We are deeply committed to keeping patients safe,” said Clements. “We will continue to support programs that effectively promote patient safety improvements.”
For more information, visit https://www.crmchospital.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/CullmanRegionalMedicalCenter.
