Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE: THC) announced that Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory, N.C., led by Chief Executive Officer Dennis Phillips and his administrative team, has been selected to the company’s 2004 Circle of Excellence.  Additionally, physical therapists Andrew Johnson and Randall Turner have been inducted into the Caregiver Hall of Fame. 

           Tenet’s annual Circle of Excellence award recognizes the winning hospitals’ accomplishments in a number of different areas and is intended to honor the teamwork, collaboration and cooperation that are required to operate a successful hospital.  Hospitals are evaluated based on such factors as high ratings for patient satisfaction, consistency of the hospital leadership team, proven success at overcoming difficult challenges, and financial performance.

            “Through the hard work and dedication of its leadership and staff, Frye Regional Medical Center has become a role model for other Tenet hospitals and an essential part of the health care community in the area it serves,” said Reynold Jennings, Tenet’s chief operating officer.  “Under Dennis’ leadership, Frye strives to provide preeminent medical care for its patients, as well as excellent working conditions to attract and retain the best employees.  Frye Regional Medical Center is thoroughly deserving of Tenet’s highest award.”

            Phillips, Chief Operating Officer Ed Rush, Chief Financial Officer David O’Connor, and Chief Nursing Officer Suzanne Bird led Frye to a stellar year. The hospital was ranked first of all Tenet hospitals for patient satisfaction.  Under the administrative team’s leadership, Frye has opened a new Heart Center, expanded the Frye Surgery Center and reopened Alexander Community Hospital.

            Tenet’s divisional and regional executives nominate candidates for the Circle of Excellence from the hospitals they supervise. Winners are selected based on both objective criteria, such as patient, physician and employee satisfaction scores, and subjective evaluations. 

Johnson and Turner are known as the twins at Frye because they work so well together.  Johnson, a physical therapy assistant, and Turner, an aide try to make physical therapy as fun as possible for their patients through jokes and teasing.  One case they worked on this past year affected both deeply.  Johnson and Turner were assigned to work with a young man with a terminal illness, who had lost much of his mobility and had become despondent.  The three became almost inseparable with Johnson and Turner often staying after hours to play video games and watch movies with the young patient.  Their dedication to their patients has earned them the respect and admiration of their colleagues.

“Tenet is very fortunate to have dedicated, professional and compassionate people like Andrew and Randall in our hospitals,” said Trevor Fetter, Tenet’s president and chief executive officer.  “The Caregiver Award winners represent the best of who we are and what we stand for at Tenet, which is providing excellent quality care to our patients.  Andrew and Randall are thoroughly deserving of this honor.”         

Johnson and Turner are two of six people inducted into this year’s Caregiver Hall of Fame.  Caregiver award winners are nominated by their hospital’s CEO.  Winners are selected from dozens of nominees, based on both objective criteria, such as extraordinary examples of patient care, devotion to service, technical skills and comments from co-workers, patients and families, and physicians.

Frye Regional Medical Center, part of Tenet North Carolina, is a 355-bed acute care facility located at 420 North Center Street in Hickory, NC.  The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of Catawba County since 1911.  The hospital’s main campus includes a heart center, rehabilitation center, center for neurosciences, cancer center and women’s pavilion.  Frye has several extended campuses to serve families throughout the area including: South Campus for psychiatric services; Viewmont and Hickory Surgical Centers; Wound Treatment Center/Infusion Care; Pain Center; two urgent care facilities; Alexander Campus which provides emergency care along with diagnostic and laboratory services; plus HealthPoint which provides industrial services and programs to employers.  Frye Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency. 

Tenet Healthcare Corporation, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates acute care hospitals and related health care services.  Tenet’s hospitals aim to provide the best possible care to every patient who comes through their doors, with a clear focus on quality and service.  Tenet can be found on the World Wide Web at www.tenethealth.com.