[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 26 (Thursday, March 10, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 10, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
HONORING WHITESBURG APPALACHIAN REGIONAL HEALTH-CARE--TOP 25 
                             IN THE NATION

                                 ______


                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 10, 1994

  Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor excellence in health 
care. Health care is a very dear subject to the people of southern and 
eastern Kentucky.
  It is for this reason, I am proud to commend the administration and 
staff at the Whitesburg Appalachian Regional Healthcare facility for 
being named one of the top 25 performing rural facilities in the United 
States.
  Whitesburg ARH was rated alongside 2,100 rural health care facilities 
with over 250 beds or less and scored among the leaders.
  The study was undertaken by the healthcare information firm HCIA, 
Inc. and the Mercer health care provider consulting firm, to establish 
industry benchmarks for successful health delivery.
  It scored hospitals, large and small, in eight categories: First, 
charge per discharge; second, risk-adjusted mortality rate; third, 
morbidity ratio; fourth, expenses per discharge; fifth, average length 
of stay; sixth, profitability; seventh, financial leverage; and eighth, 
investment in capital assets. These categories are implied measures of 
cost, quality, and viability.
  Whitesburg ARH scored among the top hospitals in every category. Not 
a small feat--the only other hospital to receive such recognition in 
Kentucky was the UK Medical Center facility in the large hospital 
category.
  Whitesburg ARH is not just excellent at delivering health services to 
the residents of Kentucky. It has devoted much time and effort in 
recent years in community health education through health fairs, 
information booth at events and even free health screenings at the 
hospital's annual pig roast, during the Mountain Heritage Festival.
  I am proud to honor Administrator Nicholas P. Lewis, the 
administration and staff of Whitesburg ARH. They are a shining example 
of rural health care delivery which all of southern and eastern 
Kentucky, and all of America can be proud.

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