Berea Mayor Bruce Fraley congratulated St. Joseph Berea Hospital recently after the facility landed two awards for excellence, one for outstanding patient care and the other recognizing the facility as one of the best places to work in Kentucky.
“St. Joseph Berea Hospital has been one of our largest employers, and on March 12, St. Joseph Berea received the 2024 Patient Experience Award. That was their second straight year, and the hospital was recognized for being in the top 10 percent for patient experience. That’s right here in our community,” Fraley remarked at the council’s March 19 business meeting. “We had Rhonda Anglin McMaster here not long ago, and for John Yanes, their president, and to their entire staff, congratulations on that prestigious award.”
The recognition for patient care was awarded by Healthgrades. Fraley continued:
“Three days later, on March 15, St. Joseph Berea was recognized as one of the best places to work in Kentucky,” he said, citing a list compiled by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Society for Resource Management.
Part of CHI St. Joseph Health, St. Joseph Berea Hospital also has a 5-star rating as part of CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The news comes following another achievement recently announced by St. Joseph Berea at a February meeting of the Berea City Council. The facility recently landed $350,000 in federal funds for a nuclear medicine camera that will enhance early diagnosis and potentially save lives. At that meeting, Cardiovascular Services and Nuclear Medicine Manager Rhonda Anglin McMaster thanked officials and the St. Joseph Berea Foundation for their assistance. “St. Joseph has worked with the City of Berea and Congressman Andy Barr’s office to obtain congressional funding for Health Resources and Services Association funding for $350,000 to purchase a nuclear medicine camera,” McMaster said. “I would like to extend a thank you to Mayor Fraley and for Susan Meeks and Rose Beverly for working on the grant documentation.”
Fraley has stated that part of building and maintaining a strong community is in having quality health care to serve local residents, but he added St. Joseph Berea also plays an important role as one of the city’s largest and oldest employers, which has its origins back in 1898 as part of Berea College.
“We have great employers, and St. Joseph is a shining example. Hats off to them, and I’m glad to know we’ve got good health care right here in our hometown,” Fraley said.
City of Berea, KY 