Hillcrest Cushing Unveils New Intensive Care Unit Designed to Serve Region’s Most Critically Ill Patients

Hospital Leadership Also Announces Top Rural Hospital Award from the Leapfrog Group

Cushing, Oklahoma (Jan. 19, 2024) – Hillcrest Hospital Cushing today unveiled a new intensive care unit (ICU), designed to provide around the clock care to the region’s most critically ill patients. Opened on Dec. 18, 2023, the four-room unit has served 11 patients to date.

Prior to opening, the ICU was remodeled to include breakaway doors for easy access to patients and four points of constant monitoring. The unit is also staffed to ensure a lower patient-to-nurse ratio.

“I am thrilled to unveil the new ICU at Hillcrest Cushing and share this moment with the community. This ICU will ensure that we are able to provide local care for our community’s most seriously ill patients,” said Hillcrest Cushing CEO Jonathan Schell. “I am so proud of our team for the steps they’ve taken to strengthen this hospital for our region and I’m grateful to city leaders for their support.”

The ICU was met with local support from Cushing city officials.

“I am excited that Hillcrest Cushing has reopened its ICU. Reopening the ICU is one more step forward to improving the medical services available to the citizens of Cushing and the surrounding area,” said Chairman of the Cushing Hospital Authority Ricky Lofton. “Hillcrest Cushing and the Cushing Hospital Authority, along with the Cushing Hospital Foundation, are committed to continuing to improve health care in our area. Thanks to Jonathan Schell and all the staff for their dedication and support.”

“Ensuring that our community has access to quality health care is so important, and I am so proud of the work Jonathan Schell and his team are doing to strengthen Hillcrest Cushing. This new ICU will provide critical care locally, which is a tremendous step forward for our region,” said Cushing City Manager Terry Brannon. “I know that this is just the beginning and I’m excited to see the ways this hospital will continue to grow and innovate for their patients.”

In addition to celebrating the new ICU, the hospital announced that it again received a Leapfrog award for Top Rural Hospital. More than 2,100 hospitals nationally were considered for an award from The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers known as the toughest standard-setters for health care safety and quality. A total of 132 Top Hospitals were selected to receive an award, including Hillcrest Cushing.

To date, Hillcrest Cushing has also:

• Been named as Modern Healthcare’s Best places to work four times since 2017, most recently in 2023.
• Reopened swing beds in September 2023, which allows patients to participate in rehabilitation programs in a hospital, instead of a nursing home.
• Patient satisfaction scores in September 2023 increased by almost 30% from 2022 to 2023.
• Added a new, state of the art 3D mammography machine to identify breast cancer in its earliest stages.

About Hillcrest Hospital Cushing

Hillcrest Hospital Cushing, a part of Hillcrest HealthCare System, is a community-owned facility offering a variety of services for patients of all ages in the Cushing, Oklahoma area. Hillcrest Cushing offers 24-hour emergency services, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, ICU care, wound care and more. Hillcrest Cushing was named a Top Rural Hospital by The Leapfrog Group in 2023 and has been named to Modern Healthcare’s list of the “Best Places to Work in Healthcare”hillcrestcushing.com.

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