Press Releases

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

Russell Medical Center Announces Joint Venture With UAB Medicine

Alexander City, AL. – The Cancer Center at Russell Medical Center proudly announces a newly formed joint venture relationship with UAB Medicine. This new partnership, UAB Medicine - The Cancer Center at RMC, is the first relationship of its type for both parties and designed to enhance oncology services provided in the Lake Martin Area and surrounding area.

“Russell Medical Center has always been a leader in the health care community of Alabama,” says Jim Peace, Russell Medical Center President and CEO. “This joint venture with UAB Medicine is a continuation of the mission of our hospital and provides the stability of cancer services to the area for years to come. We strive to provide the Lake Martin area with the very best health care has to offer and excellence in cancer care, treatment, research and education and UAB Medicine is synonymous with that reputation.”

Peace says by entering into this partnership UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center will work closely with RMC’s Medical Oncologist and staff to support and grow the local treatment program by providing access to UAB Medicine’s best practices in cancer care, broader access to clinical trials, continuing medical education for nurses and oncologists, and access to the latest education about advancements in the treatment and detection of cancer. “It’s important for Lake Martin residents to know that we are not selling our center,” says Peace. “We retain ownership of the building, its contents, and employees will continue to be our personnel. We have a new logo bearing the UAB Medicine brand which we will proudly display on campus. Patients will in essence receive treatments from a UAB Medicine facility without having to travel to Birmingham. It’s a win-win for Russell Medical Center, UAB, and residents of the Lake Martin area.”

“Our collaboration with UAB Medicine is incredibly exciting,” says Mabry Cook, Director of The Cancer Center at RMC. “Our oncologist, Dr. Mary Emily Sheffield, and our staff radiation oncologists have already brought so much to our center through education and effort at UAB Medicine. The joint venture will further allow our patients greater access to clinical trials and research.”

The Cancer Center at RMC opened in June 2001 and has a history of leadership, being only the second center in the state to offer Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), which is now a standard treatment modality for numerous cancers. The Center offers a multi-disciplinary care team including a medical oncologist, radiation oncologists, skilled oncology nurses, dosimetrist, radiation therapist, clinical dietician, case manager and support staff.

“We look forward to working with Russell Medical Center to leverage each other’s strengths and offer access to leading-edge cancer care and research to Alexander City and surrounding communities,” says Dr. Edward Partridge, director of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center and immediate past president of the American Cancer Society Inc. “UAB Medicine’s more than 350 cancer scientists and clinicians are making discoveries every day, and with this new relationship we can increase access to those discoveries in this region, ultimately saving more lives.”

About Russell Medical Center
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. Thomson Reuters awarded Russell Medical Center the 100 Top Hospitals distinction and prestigious Everest Award in 2011.

About the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center
The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center is among the 40 cancer centers in the nation to meet the stringent criteria for the National Cancer Institute's comprehensive designation. The center is a leader in groundbreaking research, reducing cancer disparities and leading-edge patient care.

Total Fitness at Russell Medical Center

Lake Martin’s Official Weigh-in Site For Scale Back Alabama

Scale Back Alabama is a 10-week weight-loss competition that will begin the week of Jan. 21 - 27 and end the week of April 7 - 13. Participants will compete in teams of four, and for every team that completes the 10-week contest with each team member losing at least 10 pounds (an average of one pound per week), the team will be included in a drawing for one of three statewide grand prizes (first team drawn will win $1,000 each, second team drawn will win $500 per team member, and the third team drawn will win $250 per team member). All individuals who lose at least 10 pounds will be included in a drawing for one of 50 achievement prizes of $100 per person, regardless of their team’s achievement. In addition, there will be a separate drawing for all individuals who have lost any weight and make the time to weigh out. These drawings will take place on April 30. Local prizes will also be given to the team and individuals with the most weight loss.

http://www.scalebackalabama.com/about.html

For additional information call Matt Parker, Total Fitness Scale Back Coordinator, at (256) 329-7623.

Weigh-ins will be conducted at Total Fitness on the following dates:
January 23: 7-9 a.m., 12 – 1 p.m., 5-7 p.m.
January 25: 7-9 a.m., 12 – 1 p.m., 5-7 p.m.
January 27: 7-9 a.m., 12 – 1 p.m., 5-7 p.m.

Weigh-out will be conducted at Total Fitness on the following dates:
April 11: 7-9 a.m., 12 – 1 p.m., 5-7 p.m.
April 12: 7-9 a.m., 12 – 1 p.m., 5-7 p.m.
April 13: 7-9 a.m., 12 – 1 p.m., 5-6 p.m.

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!

 

Rory Clawser, M.D., ABOG Diplomat
Obstetrics & Gynecology

Dr. Rory Clawer is a native of Orlando, Florida. He and his wife Emily were married last fall and are excited to make Alexander City their new home. Dr. Clawser joined Dr. Sullivan and the staff of The Women’s Pavilion in October. His office is located on the first floor of the POB, suite 111. In addition to meeting new patients, he is looking forward to reaching out to the community with educational seminars about his field.

Dr. Clawser’s background includes receiving his medical degree and completion of his internship and residency at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Prior to joining the Women’s Pavilion staff, he practiced at Lakeview Obstetrics and Gynecology at Lakeview Medical Center in Suffolk, Virginia. He was also an attending physician at Sentara Obici Hospital and Maryview Medical Center in Virginia.

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.