CEO: Hospital plays vital role
Timothy McGill
Recent changes at Hartselle Medical Center has prompted community concerns about the facility’s future. However, according to new CEO Timothy McGill, HMC is positioning itself to provide better and expanded services in the area.
“We see ourselves as able to provide unique services that will continue to attract people from all over North Alabama,” McGill said.
McGill himself is part of those changes. He is also the CEO of Decatur’s Parkway Medical Center, which, like HMC, is owned by Capella Healthcare Inc. McGill, who has been at Parkway since 2008, is the first CEO to direct both facilities. Other changes were more painful, including the loss of 18 local jobs as some positions were merged with departments at Parkway.
McGill said unless there are “unforeseen circumstances” he doesn’t see any more layoffs at HMC. Instead, the hospital is working on growing its existing services, including the emergency room.
Questions had been raised throughout the area that HMC’s emergency room would be closed. That’s not the case, McGill said.
“Sixty-five percent of our (HMC) admissions come through the emergency room,” he said. “The emergency room is the front door for any hospital and we don’t plan to change that here.”
Nor are their plans to change the hospital’s geriatric psychiatric services, a unique program that meets the needs of area residents.
“We have people from Huntsville, Florence, throughout the area that use this service,” McGill said.
HMC recently added a hospitalist, Dr. Dinesh Gandhi. Hospitalists serve as on-site physicians for patients who either don’t have a primary care doctor or whose doctor doesn’t see patients at a hospital. The hospitalist program has eight physicians at Parkway and accounts for 30 percent of all in-patient treatment.
Dr. Bhavna Gowda also joined HMC this month and more physicians – and expanded practices – are expected.
The hospital is also reemphasizing its Alpha program, or Alabama Program Against Harmful Addictions. The detox program treats adults 18 and older who are experiencing acute programs with drugs or alcohol. The medical detox program includes two to four days of treatment before going into a long-term facility.
McGill said part of his mission is to use both hospitals to spur the other on for greater service. That and continue the excellence the hospital is already known for. Patient surveys show Hartselle Medical Center scores above the national average for care and patient satisfaction.
