Sole Community Hospital Designation

In September 2010, the DCH Health System board of directors approved a management recommendation to seek the classification of "sole community hospital" for the Regional Medical Center and Northport Medical Center.

In order to receive this classification, the two hospitals will be required to operate under one combined Medicare provider number.

"The sole hospital designation should have little or no impact on day-to-day hospital operations," said Bryan Kindred, Health System President/CEO. "However the designation offers a number of benefits that will position us to respond to the current and future economic challenges and other regulatory requirements that we face," he added.

Under the sole community hospital designation, DCH hospitals will be better able to comply with certain Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and The Joint Commission governance standards. It will also provide the two DCH hospitals in Tuscaloosa County with a greater level of protection against unexpected and unanticipated adjustments in future reimbursement.

The medical staffs at the Regional Medical Center and Northport Medical Center approved formation of a single medical staff executive committee and medical staff president in order to meet the requirement for the designation.