Becker’s Healthcare recently included UAB St. Vincent’s Blount on its list of Critical Access Hospitals to Know. The honor recognizes the 25-bed facility as one of 100 noteworthy rural hospitals in the nation that provide 24/7 emergency care and other important services to communities that need them most.
To help create the list, an editorial team from Becker’s Hospital Review reviewed rankings and recognitions from some of the most respected voices in rural health, including the National Rural Health Association and the Chartis Center for Rural Health. The hospitals that made the list are actively expanding access to specialty care, reducing the burden of patient travel, and improving the health of their communities. The list is based solely on nominations and research; the organizations do not pay to be included.
In choosing UAB St. Vincent’s Blount, Becker’s pointed to the hospital’s wide range of clinics and services, which include:
- Inpatient and outpatient wound care
- Hospitalist services
- A retail pharmacy
- Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
- A sleep lab
- Outpatient geriatric psychiatry services
- An infusion clinic
- Hospice and respite care
- Pain management services
- Durable medical equipment services
- Telehealth services
Also, Becker’s noted that UAB St. Vincent’s Blount recently added a wide-bore MRI scanner to its Radiology Department, along with an ultra-high-resolution CT scanner.
Why it matters
According to Becker’s, critical access hospitals are essential pillars of healthcare in remote parts of the United States. The rural hospitals that made the list are expanding their service lines and embracing technology to reduce travel for patients, for both general and specialty care.
UAB St. Vincent’s Blount Administrator Greg Brown says the Becker’s recognition is significant in several ways.
“First, we are proud that our hospital works to make certain that Blount County residents aren’t required to travel a great distance to get advanced medical care,” Brown said. “What’s most meaningful for us is that inclusion on the Becker’s list recognizes vital access to services but also highlights that we deliver high-quality care and are expanding our capabilities.”
Learn more about UAB St. Vincent’s Blount.