Press release
From Mission Health:
ASHEVILLE, N.C. ( Feb. 13, 2014) As part of a continuing effort to address the health care needs of rural communities, Mission Health today announced the initiation of an effort to support and expand the work of national initiatives on the management of health care needs in rural communities.
Federal and state-wide initiatives now in place address some but not all of the unique needs of rural communities. By creating the Rural Health Planning and Development department, Mission will understand and develop innovative models of care to address the unique strengths and challenges that many rural communities face.
“The driving force behind all we do at Mission is our BIG (GER) Aim: To get each patient to the desired outcome, first without harm, also without waste and with an exceptional experience for the patient and family,” said Jill Hoggard Green, PhD, RN, Mission Health’s Chief Operating Officer and president, Mission Hospital and Mission Medical Associates. “Understanding the unique strengths and challenges that occur in rural communities will enable the development of strategies and models of care to ensure access to high-quality health services, enabling us to achieve our BIG(GER) Aim.”
Teresa Wall, who is currently a vice president of hospital-owned practices for Mission Health, will join the new department as a system director. Wall will work with Mission Health and community leaders to bridge gaps, establish relationships, garner funding, and gather that work into a body of knowledge that can be used to improve care in our rural communities
“Teresa has been extremely successful in building a robust network of six Rural Health Care clinic sites throughout McDowell County over the past four years, creating easy access for the communities we serve,” added Lynn Boggs, Senior Vice President, System Operations, Mission Health and president and CEO of McDowell Hospital. “Our clinics volumes have grown from 42,000 to more than 78,000 per year in that same period of time as a result. She has become an expert in Rural Health regulations at the state and national level, and is well-networked within these agencies. Teresa has also developed some very innovative improvements in practice management, such as our centralized scheduling and referral center. She is uniquely qualified for the new body of work that will enhance Mission Health’s BIG(GER) Aim.”
Wall holds a BS/BA in Marketing Management, and a Masters in Entrepreneurship from Western Carolina University.
About McDowell Hospital
McDowell Hospital is a not-for-profit community hospital serving McDowell County. Located in Marion, N.C., the hospital is licensed for 65 beds and has more than 400 employees, including 120 RNs. Medical specialties offered by McDowell Hospital include: family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, orthopedics, urology, and obstetrics and gynecology. Currently, five of its primary care practices have been recognized by CMS as Rural Health Clinics. McDowell Hospital is a member of Mission Health, which has been named one of the nation’s Top 15 Health Systems in 2012 and 2013 by Thomson Reuters and Truven Health Analytics, respectively. For more information, please visit mcdowellhospital.org.About Mission Health
Mission Health, based in Asheville, N.C., is the state’s sixth-largest health system and the region’s only not-for-profit, independent community hospital system governed and managed exclusively in western North Carolina. Mission Health was recognized as one of the nation’s Top 15 Health Systems in 2012 and 2013 by Thomson Reuters and Truven Health Analytics, respectively. Mission Health is one of only two medium-sized health systems to receive this recognition in 2012 and 2013, and the only health system in North Carolina to achieve that distinction.Mission Health, which traces its roots in the region back to 1885, operates six hospitals, numerous outpatient and surgery centers, post-acute care provider CarePartners, and the region’s only dedicated Level II trauma center. Its medical staff consists of more than 1,000 physicians and is certified in more than 50 medical specialties and sub-specialties. Mission Health has seven Centers of Excellence: Cancer, Heart, Mission Children’s Hospital, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Trauma and Women’s Health. Mission Hospital, located in Asheville, is the system’s flagship hospital and is licensed for 730 beds. It is the regional referral center for tertiary and quaternary care. It also includes Mission Children’s Hospital – the region’s only children’s hospital. Other Mission Health member hospitals include Angel Medical Center in Franklin, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital in Highlands, McDowell Hospital in Marion and Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard. With approximately 10,600 employees and 2,000 volunteers, Mission Health is dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the people of western North Carolina. For more information, please visit mission-health.org.
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