Alleghany Memorial Hospital
Your local hospital has served the citizens of Alleghany and Grayson Counties for more than 55 years. Alleghany Memorial Hospital is the very definition of a rural healthcare facility: yet it is evident in the list of services and physicians, the hospital has much to offer to the communities it serves. Even more important than that, however, is the personal and gentle approach the dedicated staff takes that is not readily found in surrounding hospitals.
History
Alleghany Memorial Hospital was formed by a group of concerned citizens in July 1948 and opened on February 5, 1951 with twenty patient beds. The private non-profit corporation was organized to “take care of our family, friends, of Alleghany County and surrounding communities locally”. The original board members of the corporation were R. Floyd Crouse, R.J. Randolph, Fred G. Weaver, Lonnie Edwards, Isom Wagoner, Edd Pugh, George Royal, Kyle Edwards, Phil Hanes, Christine Gray, Albert Richardson, Marion Joines, Ernest Edwards, Pearl Fields, J.C. Gambill, Mack Woodie, Edwin Duncan, and D.F. Sturdivant.
By the mid 1950’s, more patient rooms were needed. Expansion plans were developed and construction of additional rooms consisting of eleven beds (two wards of four beds and three single rooms) was completed in November 1957.
Continued growth occurred and the Doughton Wing, named in honor of Robert Lee Doughton, native of Alleghany County, Statesman-Humanitarian-Congressman-Philanthropic friend of all mankind, with twenty-one beds, was constructed in 1964.
A complete renovation of Alleghany Memorial Hospital took place in 1976 and 1977. Additional space was added to the emergency department, laboratory and the business department. New heating and plumbing systems were installed and new furniture was purchased for all patient rooms.
In 1986 a new physical therapy area, medical records department, conference room, two offices and a solarium were added to the west wing of the hospital.
In 1995, Alleghany Memorial Hospital developed a Specialty Clinic for specialty physicians' services allowing our community to have expanded care without traveling long distances. Additional diagnostic services were added for the convenience of the patients.
In 1996, Endoscopy equipment was upgraded to expand patient care. A telemedicine link for Radiology was established with Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.
A Respiratory Therapy Department was added in 1997 and the Imaging Services Department was renovated. Radiology coverage was extended to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ophthalmology/Cataract specialty services were established and a new General Surgeon was recruited, expanding surgical services. Specialty services began offering Otolaryngology (ENT) procedures. The formation of the Hospital Foundation Board to oversee fund-raising and future development of facilities and services was also established.
In 1999, Interstitial Laser Transurethral Prostatectomy services and epidural pain management for chronic back pain were developed. Additional physicians were recruited to improve emergency room staffing. The radiology department was renovated to replace and upgrade equipment. The Hospital Foundation funded the purchase of a new mammography unit and a new bone density unit. The main lobby was renovated and bedside cardiac telemetry monitoring systems were insatlled improving patient monitoring.
In 2000, the State of North Carolina approved a Certificate of Need application to construct a new Surgery Department, Emergency Department, Admissions/Main Entrance, and renovate Lab, Imaging Services, and Respiratory Therapy Departments.
Construction was completed in 2003 of the new Surgery and Emergency Departments as well as the new entrance. About a year later, the renovated Lab, Imaging Services, and Respiratory Departments were unveiled. (More details on the construction are located in the following pages.)
Also in 2003, the hospital engaged EmCare Emergency Medicine to staff the hospital Emergency Room with physicians on a 24 hour basis.
Thanks to the generosity and support of our communities, Alleghany Memorial Hospital has been able to grow to its present condition. The hospital's service theme and marketing slogan, "People You Know. Care You Trust. Here When You Need Us." is the underlying fabric of the historical success of the institution. The hospital's mission is "Alleghany Memorial provides top quality healthcare services; facilitates education for healthcare needs and coordinates healthcare services that exceed the scope of our facility." We strive to provide health care in a manner that promotes integrity, accountability, fairness and respect. Policies are implemented to protect patient and staff rights, and the ethical standards we pursue are of the highest regard with respect to business practices and patient care delivery.
Alleghany Memorial Hospital's Commitment to Excellence
Throughout its fifty-five plus years of operation, Alleghany Memorial Hospital has met the needs of the communities through planned growth and expansion. The Hospital serves Alleghany County, a community of approximately 11,000 permanent and part-time residents as well as several Southwest Virginia communities such as Mouth of Wilson, Elk Creek, and Independence.
The hospital recognizes how important it is to the health and economic well being of the communities and strives to continuously improve health care delivery to it constituents.
Improving Medical Care
Alleghany Memorial Hospital is accredited through The Joint Commission.
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission is dedicated to continuously improving the safety and quality of the nation's health care through voluntary accreditation. The accreditation award recognizes Alleghany Memorial's dedication to complying with the Joint Commission's state-of-the-art standards on a continuous basis.
"Above all, the national standards are intended to stimulate continuous, systematic and organization-wide improvement in an organization's performance and the outcomes of care," says Darlene Christiansen, executive director, Hospital Accreditation Program, Joint Commission. "The community should be proud that Alleghany Memorial Hospital is focusing on the most challenging goal -- to continuously raise quality and safety to higher levels."
Our history has been of prudent and planned growth and we will continue to improve medical and patient care with the support of the communities. Medical science has made tremendous strides in recent years. Sophisticated diagnostic tools, subtle, non-invasive treatment techniques and miraculous new medicines have revolutionized health care. As a result, Americans are living both longer and healthier lives. Alleghany Memorial Hospital has been keeping pace as demonstrated by the continuous improvements in the past years.
Making Space for Progress
In the late 1990's, the Hospital Board, Medical Staff, and Management Team developed a plan to expand, enhance and fully modernize Alleghany Memorial Hospital's facilities.
The complex program of construction and renovation was divided into two phases so the the delivery of services was not compromised as work proceeded.
Phase I: construction of a new Emergency Department, new Surgical Suites with two new operating rooms, a new Central Sterile Supply and Recovery Service, as well as construction of a new Facility Services Center to provide boilers, chillers, and an electric distribution center to support facility expansions. Construction of a new, more private Registration/Admission Area, and a new, barrier-free Main Entrance and Lobby that will provide for all public functions such as reception/information, main waiting area, auxiliary/gift shop, public vending area, and public restrooms. The new Main Entrance will face a new parking lot and will have a canopy to protect patients and visitors from the elements. The cost of Phase I with equipment and furnishings was $6 million.
Phase II: renovating surgery and emergency department space (vacated during Phase I) to expand the Radiolory Department, enhance Mammography Services and develop dedicated waiting areas for Radiology Services. Outpatient/Ambulatory Surgery Services - including preoperative and outpatient diagnostic services - also will be developed in the newly vacated space. The cost of Phase II with equipment and furnishings was $1.6 million.
Today
Alleghany Memorial Hospital is committed to providing the highest possible quality of care and services to meet our customer's expectations. In keeping with our vision, "People You Know. Care You Trust. Here When You Need Us." AMH initiated a Customer Satisfaction Program in October 2003. After comprehensive training and education, AMH defined four service standards for its employees to guide them in their day to day hospital interactions.
These services standards set the expected behavior to meet the hospital's mission and vision. Every experience counts! Alleghany Memorial Hospital knows that. Every level of the organization pledges their commitment to not only meeting but exceeding each and every customer expectation with each and every experience. Our focus is not simply serving, but instead "wowing" the patients we serve!
Alleghany Memorial is a key member of this community and contributes significantly to the region's economic viability. About 20% of both hospital staff and hospital patients come from the state of Virginia. Annually, the hospital spends about $300,000 on utilites and telephone services; it also spends approximately $110,000 every month on hospital supplies- some of which comes from local, North Carolina and Virginia companies.
Since 2000, Alleghany Memorial Hospital has discounted over $1,000,000 in hospital bills for charity. Also since 2000, the hospital has incurred over $33,000,000 in salary, wages, and benefit costs for its staff. The hospital employs about 155 people on a full time and part time basis. A significant portion of our staff is college educated, and licensed individuals.
We partner with local healthcare and health awareness facilities for education and treatment opportunities. These include educational classes with the local EMS as well as other community education programs, and working with Alleghany Wellness Center with Aquatic therapy, obesity and other education programs.
Alleghany Memorial Hospital continues to explore ways to effectively maintain current technology with limited resources. The hospital, through generous grants from The Duke Endowment and Kate B.Reynold Charitable Trust, amongst others, has upgraded the Imaging Services Department by installing a brand new Mammorgraphy machine, a new Teleradiography System, and installing a Picture Archival and Communications System (PACS). This has enabled the hospital to take and store digital radiological image of its basic radiology test. Also, as part of the aforementioned grants, the hospital purchased a new laparoscopic surgery system, and other surgical equipment.
The hospital is currently working on transitioning much of its paper medical records to an electronic medical record system. Through another generous grant from The Duke Endowment, Alleghany Memorial Hospital is striving to use modern technology to make healthcare more efficient and effective for the citizens of the communities we serve.
Thank you for taking the time in getting to know us better. Please contact us for questions or concerns regarding the hospital. We want you to know, we are part of this community and we care about you. We are your friends, and neighbors, and we strive to deliver quality patient care the way our communities have come to expect. We want you to consider your local hospital as your first choice in healthcare.
