At a time when rural hospitals are proving to be vulnerable in other parts of the state, you can find Door County Medical Center sinking its roots deeper. In the past 18 months, hospitals in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls have closed, and facilities in Manitowoc, Oakridge, and Stanley are considered at risk due to financial stress, Medicaid dependence, and other factors.

 

Despite some of these trends being observed locally, Door County Medical Center is taking steps to stay ahead of the heartbreak being seen in those communities. Earlier this year, Door County Medical Center became the only hospital in northeast Wisconsin and one of less than 300 across the country to earn a five-star rating for patient experience and overall hospital quality, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The ratings considered key quality measures, including mortality, safety of care, readmission rates, patient experience, and timely and effective treatment. In August, DCMC Chief Quality Officer Nancy Daoust says they consistently work hard within the hospital to improve continually.

Even with 175 physicians on staff and recent investments in patient record keeping, diagnostic imaging, and robotic-assisted surgery, Door County Medical Center introduces itself to the community in other ways as well. Organizations such as the Door County YMCA, Crossroads at Big Creek, Peninsula Pacers, Door County Land Trust, Door County Economic Development Corporation, and Southern Door School District commend the hospital for its contributions to creating a better future for the community.