Michael Padgett, Emergency Medical Services Director for Washington County Regional Medical Center, recently graduated from the HomeTown Health 2024 Executive Leadership Program. Padgett was among eleven individuals who graduated from the program and were recognized at the 25th Annual HomeTown Health Fall Conference at Callaway Gardens in October.
This program was designed to give leadership candidates in the healthcare industry the tools and information they need to become future Senior Executives, Senior Managers, and Directors. This marked the seventeenth year that HomeTown Health, an organization committed to supporting the survival of rural hospitals, offered the leadership training program.
“The turnover rate in administration and key leadership positions within rural hospitals is staggering and unnerving,” said Jimmy Lewis, CEO of HomeTown Health. “We decided many years ago that it was valuable for hospitals to identify personnel with leadership skills and capitalize and grow these skills into capable, competent, and confident leaders who are dedicated to the long-term success of their facilities. After some time, we expanded the program to our business partners who wish to raise leaders within their organizations as well. Our goal for all participants is to strengthen, equip, and encourage them to be the best leader they can be within the organization that they serve.”
The training Padgett and his fellow graduates underwent throughout the year consisted of in person trainings and experiences, including participation in rural hospital/CEO Leadership Day at the Capitol; trainings in managed care and compliance; personal development; industry updates; hospital finance and liability and much more. In addition, the series also included online courses throughout the year.
“I was really honored to be a part of HomeTown Health’s Executive Leadership Program, and I learned a lot about leadership in the context of rural healthcare,” said Padgett. “I am very excited to incorporate all this information into my role as Emergency Medical Services Director to better serve my community as a whole, our patients and families at WCRMC, and my fellow employees at WCRMC.”
About Washington County Regional Medical Center
Washington County Regional Medical Center is a licensed general acute care 56-bed hospital with a 60-bed extended care facility that has been providing high quality, patient centered care to the community for more than 50 years. The hospital provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient surgery, along with a 24-hour physician staffed emergency room and a wide range of services including an Imaging Center, Rehabilitation Services, Respiratory Therapy, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Swing-Bed, Inpatient and Outpatient Surgery, ICU, Telemedicine, Lab, and Ambulance Services. To learn more, visit wcrmc.com.
Pictured: Michael Padgett of WCRMC (right) accepts his plaque for completing the HomeTown Health Leadership program.