AHA names Rural Hospital Leadership award winners

The AHA today announced Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, Vt., as the 2020 recipient of the Rural Hospital Leadership Award.

The award recognizes small or rural hospital leaders who guide their hospital and community through transformational change on the road to health care reform. AHA recognizes SVMC for using its nursing workforce as part of a transitional care model oriented at keeping older adults out of the hospital, resulting in reduced readmissions and the delivery of the correct care in the correct setting.

AHA Board Chair Rod Hochman, M.D., will present this award at the AHA’s 34th Rural Health Care Leadership Conference, which will be held virtually Feb. 17-18, 2021.

The AHA also recognized Titusville (Pa.) Area Hospital as a finalist for its to efforts reduce ED response time, address transportation options and facilitate non-emergency appointments to improve patient satisfaction by 100%.