YCH named to top 100 critical access hospitals

The Yoakum Community Hospital (YCH) was one of three hospitals in the state of Texas to earn the title of top 100 critical access hospitals in the nation.

The top critical access hospital recognition is an index measuring hospital quality, financial outcomes, and in-patient market share. A big portion of it ties into the hospital’s ability to deliver quality care in a cost effective way.

“I think what these hospitals (on the index) likely have in common is a strong culture as well as a very strong sense of community,” YCH CEO Tiffany Miller said. “I think having a supportive community backing your hospital and backs the healthcare that is provided is a big component of it.”

The other two hospitals in Texas receiving the title were from Hamilton and Dumas. Miller said it is very special Yoakum was named to the list.

“It is a big deal and pretty awesome because Texas is huge,” Miller said. “The critical hospital closure rate is pretty staggering and I think there is a great sense of pride and joy in this, especially since we are one of three hospitals in Texas. The hospital has been here for 100 years and a lot of what we are doing now by adapting to the everchanging landscape in healthcare will allow us to be around for another 100 years.”

There are several key components for YCH to attain the recognition, according to Miller.

“Our quality outcomes are one contributing factor we got on this list,” Miller said. “Having come from a major metropolitan city in Houston, I will say bigger is not always better. The focused attention we have is important. The magic happens with our people including our physicians, our mid-level providers, our nursing staff, and our respiratory therapy staff. Just the whole compliment of how we deliver that care is important.”

“Another component is stewardship. Part of stewardship includes being a good financial steward and understanding the resources we have. Healthcare is very challenging, and these are very tough times right now. There is one constant one can expect in healthcare and that is it is constantly changing.”

YCH is unique in being located in a rural area and people from all over Lavaca, DeWitt, and Victoria counties come to the hospital.

“The community here plays a big part in separating our hospital from other hospitals in the area,” Miller said. “We also have a wide variety of services. I was really surprised at how much YCH offers including in-patient admission, wound care, and our hyperbaric unit. We also have a full spectrum of therapy services including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and our behavioral health component like New Horizons.”

“One of the neat things about YCH is also our proximity to Victoria as well as the proximity to San Antonio, Seguin, or Austin. We have physicians who are able to accommodate to our out-patient clinic. Our patients are able to get access to that service without being able to go far from home.”

“We could not do it without the staff,” Miller said.

“We are stronger together and we are going to continue to strive to achieve high standards of quality healthcare for the citizens of Yoakum and the surrounding communities in which we serve.”