For the first time, Doctors’ Memorial Hospital (DMH), a Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Affiliate, has been recognized as one of the nation’s Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. Chartis’ annual Top 100 award program recognizes outstanding performance among rural hospitals based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®.

“This recognition means so much to our entire team at DMH,” said CEO Lauren Faison-Clark. “We are proud to provide local access to quality care in our community. This year we have been working hard to create a culture of excellence and it is so validating to have that work recognized by Chartis.”

Now in its 14th year, the INDEX is the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Featuring a methodology utilizing publicly available data, the INDEX is leveraged nationwide by rural hospitals, health systems with rural affiliates, hospital associations, and state offices of rural health to measure and monitor performance across a variety of areas impacting hospital operations and finance.

“During an era of profound uncertainty for rural healthcare, the Top 100 rural hospitals continue to provide a unique lens through which we can identify innovation and inspiration for how to deliver high quality care to increasingly vulnerable populations,” said Michael Topchik, National Leader for The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “We’re delighted to be able to recognize all this year’s Top 100 but especially the more than 40 first-time recipients across both categories. It’s wonderful to see so many new facilities join the ranks of our Top 100 alumni.”

Of the 6,120 hospitals in the U.S., approximately 1,810 are designated as rural. Rural hospitals are defined as those not located within a metropolitan area by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and the Census Bureau.

DMH has faced challenges over the past year as Taylor County received direct impacts from Hurricane Idalia in August 2023. Through the storm and recovery, DMH never ceased service. At the request of state health officials, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response deployed National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) personnel that included doctors, nurses, paramedics, and safety and administrative personnel to help care for the community. The team worked alongside hospital staff to treat 325 patients in eight days.

Also in the days after the storm, DMH leaders worked with Walmart who stepped up to “take care of those who take care of us.” Many DMH colleagues had worked prior to and through the storm and hadn’t been able to stock up on supplies. Monesia Taylor Brown with Walmart sprang into action and arranged for a very generous donation of more than $28,000 in disaster relief supplies for first responders and healthcare workers.

More highlights of 2023:

• Launched internal Culture of Excellence
• Welcomed new CEO Lauren Faison-Clark
• Opened North Florida Women’s Care and Tallahassee Podiatry Associates clinics
• Opened new Infusion Center
• Gained Critical Access designation
• Upgraded CT advanced imaging
• Added Animal Therapy program

Looking forward, the DMH emergency department is currently under renovation, the intensive care unit (ICU) will soon reopen for more acute patient care, a new patient activity room is being developed, as well as plans for a new onsite express care clinic.