Spotlight on Calhoun & Talladega: Health Care

Three hospitals serve residents and visitors of Calhoun and Talladega counties

Regional Medical Center.

RMC Health System

Regional Medical Center (RMC) Health System is the largest not-for-profit health care provider in northeast Alabama. It has about 1,520 employees over two campuses.

In Anniston, the system includes RMC Anniston, with 338 beds. RMC Anniston offers advanced cardiovascular, oncology, orthopedic, joint replacement and rehabilitation services, women’s and children’s services and numerous other specialty offerings. RMC has several family practice locations.

In March, it was announced that RMC’s Stringfellow hospital campus in Anniston would transition this year into an outpatient-only facility offering surgical and gastroenterology services, along with a seven-day-a-week urgent care center.

Officials say the changes will ensure that patients can access the right services in the right settings and that RMC can meet the future health care needs of the community it serves. Stringfellow will provide care through its emergency and surgical departments until the transition is complete. Stringfellow employees will be retained and can explore positions within the RMC organization.

The RMC Foundation is building a wellness trail and park for the community, staff, patients and visitors to enjoy on campus. It should open this fall. The foundation also purchased a simulation mannequin and worked with the critical assessment team to develop an educational simulation lab.

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RMC partners with Jacksonville State University to staff its student health clinic. It also partnered this year with the city of Anniston and St. Michael’s Health Clinic, a faith-based, not for profit organization, to open a new location with extended service hours. RMC also works with the Interfaith Ministry for dental care and prepares and distributes Meals on Wheels.

RMC also is very active with workforce development. The hospital participates in World of Works, the largest career exploration program for students in the region; partners with area schools to support their health sciences programs; holds on-site hiring events; offers a 20% tuition scholarship discount per semester to RMC employees who attend JSU; and began a student nurse assistant program with Gadsden State Community College.

Citizens Baptist Medical Center.

Citizens Baptist Medical Center

Citizens Baptist Medical Center in Talladega is located on the I-20 corridor and is a vital part of the community. It has 122 beds and is one of the largest employers in the county, with more than 300 employees. The hospital is part of the Baptist Health System and Tenet Health joint venture, Brookwood Baptist Health.

It offers several services, including chest pain and stroke care, surgical services that include minimally invasive, surgery, 3D mammography, orthopedics with rehabilitation and psychiatric care.

 

Coosa Valley Medical Center

Coosa Valley Medical Center in Sylacauga, with about 490 employees, is one of the largest employers in Talladega County and is an independent, non-profit hospital owned and governed by the Sylacauga Health Care Authority.

The 168-bed hospital has 19 areas of medical specialization, with plans to add services. There is a 20-bed senior behavioral unit within the hospital. There also is a professional office building, a medical arts building and a clinic in Childersburg.

The hospital treats about 30,000 people yearly in its emergency department, and its ambulatory/outpatient program provides treatment to 61,000 patients yearly.

This article appears in the July 2024 issue of Business Alabama.

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