East Point, Ga. (February 4, 2004) — South Fulton Medical Center is pleased to announce that it has ended 2003 first in patient satisfaction among the five Atlanta Tenet hospitals. 

"This recognition further strengthens South Fulton Medical Center's position in a very competitive market and is consistent with our organizational goal to deliver 100% patient satisfaction, 100% of the time," says Christopher Hummer, chief executive officer, South Fulton Medical Center.

South Fulton Medical Center finished 2003 with an overall patient satisfaction score of 87 percent, qualifying it as a 4-star hospital for the year. 

South Fulton Medical Center utilizes a patient satisfaction measurement system which consists of telephone interviews conducted each month by a professional research firm which contacts a random sample of recently discharged patients.  Results are provided to aid hospitals in detecting improvement opportunities, developing planning strategies to improve quality and measuring the effect of any changes.

Additionally, South Fulton Medical Center finished third in patient satisfaction in its region, which is made up of 10 hospitals throughout Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina.

South Fulton Medical Center, part of Tenet Georgia, is a 356-bed acute care community medical center located off I-85 South at 1170 Cleveland Avenue in East Point, Ga.  Established in 1963, South Fulton Medical Center has been among those at the forefront in addressing the medical and health care needs of residents of South Fulton, Coweta, Fayette, Clayton and Douglas counties for more than a decade.  Specialties include cardiac services, an emergency services trauma center, outpatient surgery services, rehabilitation services, women’s health and a sleep disorders center.  South Fulton Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.  To learn more about South Fulton Medical Center, visit www.southfultonmedicalcenter.com.