Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle recognized the area's certified athletic trainers by designating March as Athletic Training Month for the city of Huntsville. Athletic trainers with the Huntsville Hospital Sports Center met with the mayor on March 9 to commemorate the special occasion.

Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) are licensed healthcare professionals who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity of their clients. The Sports Center provides ATCs to 13 area high schools, numerous middle schools, club teams, universities and three Huntsville professional sports at no cost to the schools or organizations. Under the direction of a TOC Sports orthopedic physician, the ATCs create a safer playing environment by providing injury assessment, on-site rehabilitation and referral to the Emergency Room or a physician if needed.

For more information about Huntsville Hospital's comprehensive Sports Medicine program, call (256) 265-5000.

The Huntsville Hospital School of Radiologic Technology was established in 1969 by a combined effort of the Huntsville Hospital Authority, the administration of Huntsville Hospital, and Radiology Associates. With Penny Mays as director, the first class of eight students was accepted in the summer of 1969 and graduated in the summer of 1971.

Forty years later, the program continues to strive for academic and clinical excellence. In 2005, the program received the maximum award of accreditation by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). JRCERT is the only agency recognized by the United States Department of Education to accredit educational programs in radiography and radiation therapy.

Upon successful completion of the 24-month program, graduates are rewarded a certificate in Radiologic Technology and are eligible to apply to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam in Radiography.

The school has graduated hundreds of students who have become registered radiologic technologists. According to the most recent national scores released by AART in 2008, the program scored an average of 90 percent, placing the Huntsville Hospital School of Radiologic Technology in the top 12 percent in the nation.

Applications are currently being accepted for the class beginning July 2010. Click here for more information.

CEO David Spillers recognizes Amy Newman, Pat Jackson, Lynn Lee and Rhonda Bishop as Managers of the Year. Not pictured: Michael McDaniel.

Congratulations to the five managers who were recently recognized for outstanding leadership in 2009!

• The Margaret Adams Award for Excellence in Quality went to Michael McDaniel in the Pharmacy.
• Lynn Lee, NICU, received the Edward D. Boston Manager of the Year Award.
• Director of Customer Service Pat Jackson was recognized for excellence in customer service with the Lola Stewart Award.
• The Patty Bibb Award for Excellence in Financial Management was awarded to Amy Newman, Purchasing.
• Rhonda Bishop, Endoscopy, was awarded the Fred Crauswell Award for Excellence in Human Resources.

The Department of Health and Human Resources (HHS) presented its Medal of Honor to Huntsville Hospital for success in increasing the number of organs available for transplantation. Huntsville Hospital is the only facility in the state to have earned this award for three consecutive years.

The Department's Medal of Honor is presented to hospitals that achieve and sustain national goals for donation, including a donation rate of 75 percent or more of eligible donors at their facilities.

"The Alabama Organ Center is proud of our hospitals' commitment to organ donation," said Dem Lalisan, director of the Alabama Organ Center. "This year we are celebrating eight Alabama hospitals who significantly contributed to our state's 75 percent conversion rate of potential donations to actual transplants. These numbers represent more lives saved by organ transplantation because donors and their families generously gave the gift of life."

Other Alabama hospitals recognized this year include: Children’s Hospital of Alabama, University of Alabama Hospital, Baptist Medical Center South, Providence Hospital, Jackson Hospital, Trinity Medical Center and University of South Alabama Medical Center.

Huntsville Hospital CEO David Spillers presented an update on the Madison Hospital Monday night to the Madison City Council, including the unveiling of the official rendering of the 60 bed hospital. Click here for the rendering, click here for the story which ran in the Huntsville Times, and click here to view the powerpoint presentation as a PDF file. Groundbreaking for the hospital is set for December 8.

For the eighth consecutive year, Huntsville Hospital has been awarded National Research Corporation’s Consumer Choice Award. The hospital was one of only five hospitals in Alabama and the only one in north Alabama this year to receive this recognition.
The award identifies hospitals which healthcare consumers have chosen as having the highest quality and image.
National Research Corporation is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive study of its kind. More than 250,000 households representing approximately 450,000 consumers in the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia are surveyed. The study includes 3,200 hospitals.
Huntsville Hospital CEO David Spillers said, "We are dedicated to providing high quality healthcare to this community, and we are pleased to be honored with this award because it’s a direct reflection of our patient satisfaction."

Recently, Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Warren Strickland talked with WHNT Channel 19 about a breakthrough procedure that repairs a hole in the heart without open heart surgery. View the story online now.

On Sept. 28, The American Heart Association named Huntsville Hospital a "Fit-Friendly" company, meaning the organization goes above and beyond when it comes to their employees’ health. Teledyne Brown Engineering also received "Fit-Friendly" recognition. Learn more.

View the article from the Huntsville Times.