[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 10154-10155]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRATULATING CHARLES COLE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
congratulate Charles Cole Memorial Hospital in Coudersport, 
Pennsylvania, for winning a 2010 Achievement Award from the Hospital 
and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.
  Charles Cole Memorial was among 17 winners chosen from a pool of 134 
entries. Through their incredibly successful efforts to solidify their 
connection to the community, the Charles Cole

[[Page 10155]]

leaders and staff showed the importance of transparency and 
accessibility in the health care field.
  The hospital established five Community Benefit Advisory Committees 
as outlets for the community to become involved in planning, 
operations, and governance. Committees met several times, both 
regionally and as part of the organization, and continue to serve as 
integral team members and community correspondents for the hospital 
staff. Recent data, when compared to baseline data taken before the 
establishment of these advisory committees, showed improvement in every 
major field, including the image of the hospital, visibility in the 
community, and quality of care.
  The hospital will continue this great program. And as a person who 
spent many years in the health care field, I understand the importance 
of this effort and hope to see Charles Cole Memorial Hospital continue 
to succeed in the future.

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