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By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

The Ascension St. Vincent’s Chilton hospital added two more awards to its list in recent months for patient care. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recognized the hospital with their highest award for patient satisfaction, their five-star award.

Along with The Leapfrog Group recognizing the hospital with an A grade for patient safety in December, St. Vincent’s Chilton is one of three Alabama hospitals to earn both of those awards.

“It’s special to understand that our hospital here in Clanton was one of only three hospitals in the state, out of over 100 hospitals, to receive both of those awards,” St. Vincent’s Chilton Administrator Shanon Hamilton said.

Most recently, the hospital earned the 800 Award from Reputation.com for how St. Vincent’s Chilton manages their online presence, earning a score of 861.

“Patient satisfaction is very important, and it’s a huge part of what we do,” Hamilton said. “Anyone can treat patients well, but it is another thing that the experience that they have while they are here is at a high level.”

In addition to the awards, St. Vincent’s Chilton has added new services to its campus as well. A new pain management practice began a few months ago to treat patients who have chronic pain, such as back pain.

The hospital has also leveraged its relationship with the UAB Hospital in Birmingham. Through the alliance, St. Vincent’s Chilton will utilize UAB’s neurologists for their stroke program.

“Our relationship with UAB has growth in the past couple of years, and now we’ve started to utilize some of their services at our campus,” Hamilton said.

April is National Foot Awareness Month, and it ties in well with the wound center St. Vincent’s Chilton opened in December 2021. The wound center treats patients with nonhealing or slow healing wounds. A lot of diabetic patients develop these types of wounds on their feet.

The thought for the wound center was to offer an option in Chilton County for this type of common care need. The hospital expects the services to grow in the future.

“Being able to bring awareness to April as being that month where feet are being considered is important,” Hamilton said. “People think we do have a wound center here, and we can provide care to patients in our community.”

This summer St. Vincent’s Chilton is going to upgrade their mammogram department by installing 3D mammogram technology. The new technology will help woman in Chilton County stay safe and healthy through checkups.

“It’s going to be a huge benefit to the women in this area and community, so they don’t have to seek 3D mammography in another area, but here locally,” Hamilton said.

Anyone with questions about the services Ascension St. Vincent’s Chilton offers are encouraged to call the hospitals main number at 205-258-4400.