FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Melissa Tackett
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Little River Healthcare System
Rockdale, TX 76567
512-446-4500
RICHARDS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT SOARS TO NEW HEIGHTS
Rockdale, Texas (July 8, 2008) – The emergency department team at Richards Memorial Hospital has dedicated themselves to working as a team to improve efficiency and provide the highest quality emergency care for their patients. “Our hospital (RMH) has installed leading edge technology to provide better patient care. As a team, we are focused on improving the efficiency and care provided to our patients by utilizing our top of the line personnel, skills and resources.” explained Barbara McNeil, RN, Richards Memorial Hospital Emergency Department Nurse Manager.
That dedication is paying off for the team at Little River Healthcare System’s Richards Memorial Hospital. Two records were recently set at the RMH Emergency Department, for decreased length of stay and an increased number of visits.
The RMH Emergency Department saw a record number of patients during the month of May. “The accessibility and utilization of our hospital to our communities is a significant factor in this record. We appreciate the trust our community members are putting in the level of care we are able to provide loved ones through our highly trained team of physicians and staff, as well as our state-of-the-art technology services.” stated Jeremy Riney, CEO.
Time is of the essence when it comes to emergency care. Richards Memorial Hospital has focused on new technology, staff adjustments and training, and processes to improve the patient experience. The emergency team set another record recently for the lowest number of patients whose length of stay was longer than three hours. This time denotes the time from when the patient was admitted into and then discharged out of the emergency department. During the months of April and May, only 17.9% of patients had to spend more than three hours in the emergency department. This is a significant decrease from those seen in the past and it provides the opportunity for a more positive patient experience and an increased level of care.
“We are extremely proud of our entire team for their efforts in not only seeing a record number of patients during these months, but seeing them in record times while continuing to focus on the patient first and provide the highest quality care.” explained Jeremy Riney, CEO.
About Little River Healthcare
Little River Healthcare System formed in November 2006 when Blackhawk Healthcare merged with Richards Memorial Hospital to create a healthcare system dedicated to providing high quality, patient-centered care to the community. Little River Healthcare System is currently comprised of 5 facilities in surrounding areas: Richards Memorial Hospital, Family Care Center, Little River Medical Clinic - Rockdale, Little River Medical Clinic – Cameron and Little River Medical Clinic - Hearne. Our energized and committed staff of employees, physicians and volunteers work together every day to deliver our mission.
About Blackhawk Healthcare
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Blackhawk Healthcare is an owner and operator of Critical Access Hospitals. Blackhawk’s desire is to transform rural healthcare by working synergistically with each rural community to build confidence and pride through improved healthcare delivery. We are passionately dedicated to the uniqueness of rural healthcare and improving the community by bringing the resources required to meet the broader needs of each "hometown" we touch. Blackhawk is inspired to provide excellence in service and modern facilities that convey trust, confidence and healing.