Peter Williams

Editor

Starting today, the official name of Rockingham’s hospital got a little longer.

FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital will tack on seven more words — “a Division of FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital” at the end. The extra letters were added to the sign at 925 Long Drive this week.

The change goes beyond just the name. It is a part of a larger plan to increase cooperation between the 385-bed facility in Pinehurst and the 151-bed hospital in Rockingham.

There are no plans to increase or decrease the workforce at either hospital, said John J. Jackson, the president of the Rockingham-based medical center. From a practical standpoint, the deal between the two hospitals could mean Richmond will be reimbursed at a higher rate when it comes to Medicare. It will also mean both hospitals will adopt a standard list of procedures.

The extended name to include Moore Regional is a result of consolidating Medicare billing numbers for Moore Regional and Richmond Memorial hospitals. Both hospitals will now be evaluated as one organization for patient satisfaction scores, quality data and accreditation.

“Changing the name on our signs will not be the only visible part of this effort,” Jackson said. “Consolidating provider numbers includes consolidating the medical staffs as well as many policies and procedures with Moore Regional Hospital.”

The Rockingham hospital will retain the day-to-day decision-making authority and the same 13-member local board of directors. However as part of the change, the chairman of Rockingham’s board, Paul Smart, will get a seat on the Moore County hospital board and Jackson will serve in a ex-officio role.

“Operations will remain the same, but there should be more cohesive working relationship between the two hospitals,’ Jackson said Friday.

The name change will not impact any other services offered by FirstHealth in Richmond County, including the Center for Health and Fitness, Home Care or FirstHealth Family Care Centers in Richmond County.

Montgomery Memorial, a 25-bed hospital in Troy, is part of the FirstHealth system but will not be adding the reference to Moore Regional Hospital in its name. Jackson said Montgomery is already categorized under a different designation under Medicare as a critical access hospital.

For Richmond County, when it comes to accreditation, it and Moore Regional will be considered as one entity. Richmond Memorial was last reviewed in February 2007 and could be visited by evaluators “at any time,” Jackson said.

Hospital officials say having one provider number for both hospitals will result in better coordination of care for patients and cost savings to the organization. Over time, general economies of scale and other operational efficiencies will come from becoming a single aligned provider and will enhance financial performance, according to a press release.

“Our hospital staff embarked on this change nearly 18 months ago,” Jackson said. “We are excited about the change and look forward to streamlining our processes while continuing to offer quality health care services to Richmond County residents.”

Moore Regional is a acute care hospital that serves as a referral center for a 15-county region of the Carolinas. Richmond Memorial provides emergency, inpatient, outpatient and acute care services. It became part of the FirstHealth system in March 2001.