About Community Memorial Hospital
Community Memorial Hospital is a modern healthcare system providing primary care, performing sophisticated orthopedic surgery, offering family-oriented birthing facilities, meeting the burgeoning demand for same day surgery, offering skilled nursing facilities for the elderly population and convalescing patients, and providing a complete roster of diagnostic testing and ancillary services.
The hospital is one of the few small facilities nationwide to earn a VHA Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence in Surgical Complications and Infection Prevention. The hospital was awarded the Gold Seal from the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and is a recipient of the HealthGrades 2008 Joint Replacement Excellence Award™. Community Memorial, which has received five-star rating for joint replacement, total knee replacement and hip replacement, is ranked #2 among all New York State hospitals for joint replacement and among the top five percent of hospitals nationwide. .
Community Memorial Hospital serves a population of 45,000 people in 27 communities throughout Madison County and the eastern sections of Onondaga County as well as parts of Chenango and Oneida Counties. In 2006 the hospital admitted 2,511 patients, treated 11,517 patients in emergency services, and had 26,807 patient visits to the five hospital-owned Family Health Centers. A safety net for the people of Central New York, Community Memorial is dedicated to treating all patients regardless of ability to pay.
The hospital is directed by a 15-member Board of Directors comprising influential business, education and civic leaders.
The youthful medical staff includes 52 highly trained physicians who appreciate the special nature of rural practices. Departments include Family Practice, Orthopedics, General Surgery, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Cardiology, Urology, Ophthalmology, ENT, Emergency Medicine, Anesthesiology, Radiology and Pathology.
Community Memorial employs 382 people at wages and salaries comparable to Syracuse hospitals, and is a major economic force in Madison County. Eighty-nine registered nurses, 32 licensed practical nurses, and 33 certified nurse aides make up the largest department in the hospital, and with the medical staff, have created an atmosphere of personal care. Despite a nationwide shortage, all nursing positions at Community Memorial are filled, due in part to its active educational programs.
Education is an important component encompassing Tuition-On-Us for nurses, Bachelor's Degree Program for employees, Rural Medical Program clinical rotations, SUNY Health Science student rotations, clinical training for students in Morrisville nursing programs, and internships for Albany College of Pharmacy. The hospital also provides community education through local health fairs, smoking cessation programs, and events sponsored by the hospital Auxiliary.
Medical technicians staff increasingly sophisticated departments that feature state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. Administration and administrative services are all located on the hospital campus. Housekeeping takes seriously its role as the first line of defense against infection and the hospital's results are well-above industry standards.
Mission Statement
Community Memorial Hospital is a not-for-profit healthcare institution organized to provide appropriate patient care to the residents of the hospital service area and other individuals requiring healthcare within the resources available at this facility.
Partnerships and Affiliations
Community Memorial has important relationships with other area insitutions, providing referrals to Bassett, Crouse, and other regional hospitals when necessary.
Bassett provides CMH with a cardiologist and two general surgeons. Crouse provides information technology support for Community Memorial. The two hospitals share the same anesthesiology group and the same pathology group.
Using grant money secured through Hamilton Bassett Crouse Rural Health Network, CMH established a Dental Clinic for low income families, a Wellness Center in the village of Hamilton, major educational programs, an upgraded computer system, and a feasibility study into creation of a retirement community.
Colgate University was instrumental in the founding of Community Memorial. The director of student health services is on the hospital medical staff, and two members of the college community sit on the hospital board.
Community Memorial also has working relationships with Hamilton College, Cazenovia College, and Morrisville State College that includes sports medicine coverage and student health service.
The hospital was a founding member of the Southern Madison County Ambulance Corps and works closely with community fire departments within its service area.