Press Releases

The Russell Medical Center family is proud to share exciting news and events with our friends. Please read our recent releases!

Jones Joins RMC Medical Staff

Jim Peace, President and CEO of Russell Medical Center announced the appointment of Jon Jones, MD, General Surgeon, to the medical staff.

A Georgia native, Dr. Jones called Johnson City, TN home from 2005 through 2012 where he was instrumental in the development of a transplant program at Johnson City Medical Center. At the same time, Dr. Jones served as Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City.

Dr. Jones received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and completed a general surgery residency at the University of South Alabama followed by a transplant surgery and immunology fellowship at the University of Minnesota. He was recently an Associate Professor and member of The Transplant Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ.

Dr. Jones’ office is located in Suite 207 of the Professional Building, adjacent to Russell Medical Center. For appointments, please call 256-215-7479.

Taking Surgery Beyond the Limits of the Human Hand

Russell Medical Center (RMC) is pleased to introduce the da Vinci® Si™ Surgical System to the surgery department and to the community. With da Vinci, RMC physicians are able to offer a minimally invasive option for a wide range of complex procedures. We are excited to unveil this technology and introduce our community to the many positive attributes this system will bring to Russell Medical Center's surgical services. This substantial financial investment in technology further demonstrates the commitment Russell Medical Center has to bring first-class health care to the citizens in our area.  

Commenting on the introduction of the da Vinci Si System at a press conference on August 24, President and CEO Jim Peace said, "There are approximately 30 da Vinci surgical units in Alabama hospitals, but the system at Russell Medical Center is unique in two ways. One is… its ability to have one surgeon leading the procedure with another surgeon assisting on a second console. Only one other facility in the state, UAB, a major teaching institution, has this system with dual consoles that allows surgeons to work collaboratively while becoming proficient with the simulation technology. Secondly, Russell Medical Center is the first facility in a rural community statewide to offer this new technology."  

Peace stated further, "As Russell Medical Center has grown and unfolded new services and physicians, we recognize that there are still better ways to serve the health care needs of our community. The da Vinci system is one such avenue and we are proud to make this substantial investment in our surgical department. "  

"The da Vinci's advanced level of technology takes surgery beyond the limits of the human hand," said Robert Ribolini, Director of Surgical Services at RMC. "It can be used for a multitude of procedures, including prostatectomy, hysterectomy, removal of uterine fibroids, and colorectal surgery."

Introducing Stephen R. Bryan, MD

Russell Medical Center is proud to welcome Dr. Stephen Bryan, neurologist, to the medical staff. A Neurologist is a physician who diagnoses, treats, and manages disorders, disease, and injuries to the nervous system. This includes such areas as the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles. His practice opened June 1, 2011, and is located in the Medical Arts complex on Alison Drive.

Contact Information:
125 Alison Drive, Suite 2
Alexander City, AL 35010
Phone # 256.215.7465
Fax # 256.215.7466

Wound Care Center offers patients hope
From AlexCityOutlook.com

Chester Cotney can walk again. Ten weeks ago, that feat seemed almost impossible for the 67-year-old, who had lost four toes to diabetes and was on the verge of having his foot amputated. Cotney's foot was saved thanks to treatment at Russell Medical Center's Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Center. Read more »

Congratulations to Dr. Mary Emily Sheffield, for recently receiving her board certification in Medical Oncology and Hematology from the American Board of Internal Medicine. She is such a wonderful asset to The Cancer Center at RMC!

 

Nation's 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters

Alexander City, AL – March 28, 2011 – Russell Medical Center was today named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals^® by Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of healthcare.

The Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals^® study evaluates performance in 10 areas: mortality; medical complications; patient safety; average patient stay; expenses; profitability; patient satisfaction; adherence to clinical standards of care; post-discharge mortality; and readmission rates for acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), heart failure, and pneumonia. The study has been conducted annually since 1993. This is the first time that Russell Medical Center has been recognized with this honor.

In addition to the 100 Top Hospitals distinction, they were also named as an Everest Award recipient for 2011, one of only six hospitals nation-wide to receive this award. The Everest Award honors hospitals that have achieved both the highest current performance and the fastest long-term improvement over five years.

“The 100 Top Hospitals recognition is given to the best in the nation in providing care that is effective, safe and patient centered,” said Jim Peace, President and CEO of Russell Medical Center. “It further recognizes us as a hospital that is a financially stable employer with high scores in patient perception of care. We are humbled, proud and very excited to be named as part of this elite group.” Peace said. “Our success in achieving this status is due to each and every member of our RMC family. We live our mission daily: Being the best because we care!”

Russell Medical Center is an 81-bed, progressive, not-for-profit, acute care facility serving the needs of east Central Alabama. Russell Medical Center was founded in 1923 by Benjamin C. Russell and has been accredited by The Joint Commission since 1959.

To conduct the 100 Top Hospitals study, Thomson Reuters researchers evaluated 2,914 short-term, acute care, non-federal hospitals. They used public information — Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data, and core measures and patient satisfaction data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare website. Hospitals do not apply, and winners do not pay to market this honor.

The winning hospitals were announced in the March 28 edition of Modern Healthcare magazine.

“This year’s 100 Top Hospitals award winners have delivered exemplary results, despite volatility from healthcare reform," said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president at Thomson Reuters. “The leadership teams at these organizations have dealt with enormous ambiguity, yet remained focused on mission and excellence across the hospital which drove national benchmarks to new highs.”

If all Medicare inpatients received the same level of care as those treated in the award-winning facilities:

• Nearly 116,000 additional patients would survive each year.
  
   
• More than 197,000 patient complications would be avoided annually.
  
   
• Expense per adjusted discharge would drop by $462.
  
   
• The average patient stay would decrease by half a day.

If the same standards were applied to all inpatients, the impact would be even greater.

More information on this study and other 100 Top Hospitals research is available at www.100tophospitals.com.