2013
was a pivotal year for Alice Hyde
Medical Center. Health care reform, driven
primarily by the Affordable Care Act, has
impacted hospitals and health providers both
directly and indirectly. As the health care
industry continues to suffer from the effects of
the 2007 recession, industry leaders worry about
issues such as the continued escalation of the
cost of care, decreases in Medicare and Medicaid
reimbursement, the redesign of the insurance
industry owing to health insurance exchanges,
and the impending shortage of primary care
physicians and allied health professionals
that will be necessary to meet the needs of an
expanding and aging U.S. population.
But the Medical Center is staying ahead of
these transformational pressures, taking the
necessary steps to position us for long-term
sustainability. While most people would agree
that providing health care coverage for tens of
millions of previously uninsured U.S. citizens
is a very good thing, the money to pay for this
coverage will come from the transformation
of our old health care system. Our nation’s
hospitals will need to transform care delivery
to focus on relentlessly controlling costs,
improving efficiency, elevating clinical quality,
and expanding access to primary care providers
to improve the health of our communities.
The Medical Center has been successful
in accomplishing all of these objectives.
Our managers and employees continue to
be more efficient, delivering services at a
lower cost while not sacrificing quality. Our
Emergency Department has implemented new
processes for providing treatment, resulting
in a significant reduction in wait times and
dramatic improvement in throughput and
customer satisfaction.
Growing to meet needs
The Medical Center is expanding both in size
and staff. We are well on the way to building a
new skilled-nursing facility with the area’s first
assisted-living unit. Learn more on page 3.
Several new primary care physicians, nurse
practitioners and physician assistants joined
the Medical Center, and they are all making
it quicker and easier for patients to access
care at our medical offices and community-
based clinics. We’ve also added specialists in
urology and orthopedic surgery and developed
collaborations with specialists in vascular surgery
and pulmonology so that patients can get these
services without traveling long distances. See
the list of new physicians on page 7.
Our organization is navigating a confusing
and challenging time in the transformation of
the U.S. health care industry. But the Medical
Center has been proudly serving our neighbors
for over 100 years through the dedication
and experience of our employees, clinicians
and medical staff. We believe the best is yet to
come. You can count on “Alice” to be there for
all of your health care needs.
Douglas F. DiVello
A year of challenge and success
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alicehyde.com
Douglas F. DiVello, MPH, FACHE
President/CEO
