CONTRIBUTED BY
EAST ALABAMA HEALTH
OPELIKA —
East Alabama Health is stepping out in recognition once again. Both Laura Grill, president and CEO of EAH and the organization itself were recently recognized.
EAH’S GRILL RECOGNIZED
Laura Grill, president and CEO of East Alabama Health (EAH), has been included in the 2023 “Women hospital presidents and CEOs to know” list as released by Becker’s Hospital Review.
This list honors female hospital executives for their dedication to bettering their hospitals for patients and providers alike.
“It’s an honor to have been nominated and recognized for this list,” Grill said. “I believe this recognition really speaks more to the outstanding team we have at EAH than it does to me. Our organization is filled with excellent people, and that is what I think makes us successful.”
The presidents and CEOs featured on the list are responsible for growing their hospitals, fostering positive workforce cultures, expanding services and facilities, increasing provider and patient satisfaction levels and more.
Of the 177 women on the list, Grill is one of only three CEOs from Alabama to earn recognition. Grill served in various roles within EAH before stepping into her current position as president and CEO in 2018, becoming the first woman in the organization’s history to hold the office.
During Grill’s time as CEO, she has guided the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic and has overseen the development of new patient care services in Lee, Chambers and Randolph counties, most notably the Auburn Medical Pavilion.
She currently serves on the board for the Alabama Hospital Association. She also serves on several other boards including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, the Business Council of Alabama, the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind Foundation, the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation and AmeriFirst Bank. She has also served on the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Endowment Committee and on the boards of Habitat for Humanity — Lee County, Affiliate and the Chamber of Commerce of Opelika.
EAH EARNS CERTIFICATION
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has recognized East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC) for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients receiving transcatheter valve repair and replacement procedures.
EAMC was awarded Transcatheter Valve Certification based on evaluation of the staff’s ability to meet standards for multidisciplinary teams, formalized training, shared decision-making and registry performance.
“This certification is an example of the great care that can be provided when healthcare providers work as a team,” said Joseph Martinez, M.D., a cardiovascular surgeon at EAMC. “This certification process helped us look further into our existing processes to find ways to improve and fine tune the care that is being delivered.
“This has translated into a safer, more effective and a more comprehensive healthcare plan delivered for the patient right here at home,” Martinez said.
The ACC’s Transcatheter Valve Certification is an external review and certification process that pairs with established national clinical databases to monitor patient safety and real-world outcomes related to transcatheter valve therapies. Participation in established national clinical databases such as the STS/ACC TVT Registry is required for hospitals interested in achieving Transcatheter Valve Certification.
The certification uses established national clinical measures to support clinical decisions, and links process improvement to patient outcomes. Hospitals that achieve Transcatheter Valve Certification learn best practices for implementing evidence-based medicine to support patient-centered decision-making and can track key performance metrics to better identify opportunities for improvement.
“Gaining ACC Certification for our Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement program is a great accomplishment not only for the hospital, but for our community as well,” said Scott Reames, M.D., a physician at Pinnacle Cardiovascular Associates in Opelika. “This certification not only allows recognition for growing our local cardiovascular services in a safe and efficient way, but also gives national acknowledgement to our local and surrounding communities that they can receive advanced cardiology care right here in their community, without having to travel elsewhere.”
Reames said he sees the certification leading to further expansion of the cardiovascular services that East Alabama offers to patients.
“It allows us to build an initial bridge for further expansion of advanced cardiovascular procedures as well as retroactively reviewing and implementing changes to our existing cardiac service lines,” he said.
The cardiovascular team at EAMC performs approximately 1,500 procedures each year and is made up of a wide range of cardiac care specialists. In addition to the Transcatheter Valve Certification, EAMC also has designation as one of America’s top 50 hospitals for cardiovascular surgery, according to Healthgrades.
“East Alabama Medical Center has demonstrated its commitment to providing East Alabama with excellent heart care,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, M.D., MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award East Alabama Medical Center with Transcatheter Valve Certification.”
The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals access to a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and improve hospital financial performance. These services are focused on all aspects of cardiac care, including transcatheter valve therapies.
ABOUT EAST ALABAMA HEALTH
East Alabama Health encompasses East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, EAMC-Lanier in Valley, the Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika, the Auburn Medical Pavilion and a host of other key medical clinics and practices that help provide a continuum of care to patients throughout an 11-county area. EAMC is a 314-bed regional referral hospital with a 26-bed Skilled Nursing Facility, while EAMC-Lanier provides inpatient services as well as a nursing home, an acute rehab unit and an ambulatory surgery center. East Alabama Health employs about 3,500 people and is the second largest employer in the region, trailing only Auburn University. For more information, visit www.eastalabamahealth.org.
