Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Investing in Our Community

Written By: Tom Neal RN, MBA, MHA, CEO/CNO, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital | Issue: April 2024

Tom Neal

Highlands-Cashiers Hospital’s investment in our community connects us to our neighbors, the people we care for. This investment can be seen from our donations to local nonprofits to community events like our Teddy Bear Hospitals, which aim to soothe children’s fears about doctor visits or healthcare settings.

At these events, I have noticed children’s eyes sparkle with interest – possibly being inspired to pursue future careers in healthcare. I also appreciate the opportunity I have to meet with nursing students who come to our hospital to learn through programs at Southwestern Community College and Western Carolina University. I take each group to lunch and ask one question: “Why did you choose to become a nurse?” You would be amazed how many chose their career path as children.

Speaking of our Teddy Bear Hospitals, we recently took part in HCA Healthcare’s Healthy Food for Healthier Tomorrows Canned Food Drive, a national initiative focused on helping communities experiencing food insecurity.

The icing on the cake? Our teddy bear sculpture, constructed from the canned foods we collected, not only won $10,000 as the top entry across all Mission Health hospitals, but also came in at Number 1 throughout HCA Healthcare — earning us an additional $25,000 grant for food pantries in Highlands and Cashiers. We also donated the 435 pounds of canned food that formed our sculpture.

It’s important for us, as a hospital team, to reflect on the fact that our commitment to the community and our growth contribute to achievements that not only make us proud, but more importantly, mean better care for our patients. These milestones include earning Acute Stroke Ready Hospital accreditation from The Joint Commission – a gold seal of approval that means we are providing the highest standard of care for stroke patients in a community hospital.

Throughout pursuing this accreditation, our processes have improved, and I have had the opportunity to witness lives saved by our emergency department providing life-changing care for stroke victims within minutes of their arrival. This timeliness with care is critical in the case of a stroke. It is amazing and heartening to watch.

I am also proud to report that our ER was recognized as the Number 1 Emergency Department for hospitals with less than 40,000 visits per year throughout HCA Healthcare for sustaining the highest level of patient experience for over a year.

One of our ER doctors, Dr. John Worthington, was recognized with the APEX (Achieving Peak Performance in Patient Experience) Award as the top performing ER doctor.

I’m inspired and energized by our special community’s support of and involvement in our growth. This partnership is essential for ensuring a bright future for healthcare on the Plateau, I am grateful for it, and anticipate that it will continue to evolve to benefit all of us.