News Release: January 17, 1997

JANUARY 17, 1997 Lincoln County Medical Center receives a 99 out of 100 score from joint commission Ruidoso, New Mexico -- Lincoln County Medical Center earned a three year accreditation achievement, a grade of 99 out of 100 score, from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Formed in 1951, the Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and best known accrediting body, dedicated to improving the quality of the nation's health care through voluntary accreditation.

"It was an emotional time for the staff when they first heard the score. There was a lot of excitement, tears and plenty of hugs. It is a real achievement, an unheard of score," said Valerie Miller, Administrator, Lincoln County Medical Center. "This achievement puts us in the top 4% of the hospitals surveyed annually." The Joint Commission surveys 1,500 acute care hospitals including hospitals from 20 beds to 1,000 beds. Lincoln County Medical Center has 38 beds. "We have a highly committed staff of people who don't settle for providing ordinary health care. They work continuously to provide the best possible health care for our patients," said Miller.

In 1994, Lincoln County Medical Center also achieved recognition as one of the nation's best facilities in, "100 Top U.S. Hospitals - - Benchmark for Success." Dub Williams, Chairman, Board of Trustees for Lincoln County Medical Center, said, "This achievement reflects on the quality of people that we have at Lincoln County Medical Center. Valerie's staff does a great job of caring for our County and the people that visit us. The visitors who have used the Medical Center have nothing but praise for us. I'm extremely proud to be a part of this organization." For the past 16 years Williams has been on the Board of Trustees for Lincoln County Medical Center and has served as Chairperson for the last five years.

Wilton Howell, County Commissioner, Lincoln County, would have been disappointed if the score was not that high. "They are a top notch facility. Our county has always known that and we've always supported them by approving every bond issue." Howell also stated that Lincoln County Medical Center is good for the County. "More and more people are moving here all the time and one of the main things they look at is the health of the medical community and the condition of the hospital. People want to be assured the medical facility can meet their needs and Lincoln County Medical Center certainly proves that."

"Above all, the national standards are intended to stimulate continuous, systematic and organization-wide improvement in an organization's performance and the outcomes of care," said Charles Bair, Executive Vice President, Division of Accreditation Operations, Joint Commission. The survey looks at clinical practices, safe environment issues, the organization's viability and its' ethics such as billing practices and how it works with the community. Accreditation also assures that Lincoln County Medical Center provides quality care for people covered on any state or federal health care program, like Medicare, Medicaid and CHAMPUS.

Miller stated, "It's like an objective third party checking to insure that what you hold yourself out to be is indeed what you are actually providing."

Presbyterian Healthcare Services, the state's only not for-profit health care delivery system, manages Lincoln County Medical Center, located in Ruidoso New Mexico. The Medical Center provides a wide range of physician services, comprehensive emergency, diagnostic and surgical care. A local community Board of Trustees governs Lincoln County Medical Center.