Rural, independent, innovative: How Dosher Memorial Hospital delivers high-quality care to their community

Southport, N.C., is where the Cape Fear river meets the Atlantic Ocean; the location of Fort Johnston, the first fort constructed in the state of North Carolina; and where the Netflix hit series “The Summer I Turned Pretty” was filmed. It is also the home of Dosher Memorial Hospital, the only independent critical access hospital (CAH) left in the state.

Because Dosher is a community-owned hospital, President and CEO Lynda Stanley places transparency and accessibility at the top of her list when it comes to working with and within the community. Monthly board meetings are open to all and are reported on by the local media. Board members regularly speak to the community. “And we offer a quarterly tour where the community can come in, take a tour, see all the departments and talk to the staff,” Stanley told the AHA, meaning people will be familiar with the hospital before they even need care. And, as in most small towns, the community finds other ways to reach those who work at Dosher. “We’re local. Community members may see us at the grocery store or at church, and they tell us their feelings then.”

That personal connection isn't just about assuring the community that their money is being well spent; for Stanley, it really does come back to providing the best health care possible. That includes technology that many might be surprised to find at a 25-bed hospital.

“I would put our technology up against any tertiary center,” Stanley said. Dosher offers tele neurology to quickly diagnose strokes and arrive at the best course of care; digital imaging services; orthopedic robotics; and other advanced treatments that mean patients don’t have to make a long drive to a larger hospital. “Your ZIP code should not dictate your care. If you come here, we’re going to take just as good care of you as if you were in a tertiary center.”

Dosher’s consistent presence in the community, whether it’s a board member at a health fair or an RN in the produce aisle, is part of improving the health of those who live in Southport, Stanley said. “We’re truly making a difference in the health and health care of our community — not just when they’re sick, but also when they’re well.”