Vaughan Regional Medical Center wins Gold Award with ScionHealth for clinical excellence

Vaughan Regional Medical Center has been recognized among the top-performing hospitals in the nation within its parent company, ScionHealth, earning the organization's 2025 Gold Award for clinical excellence.

The award is the second-highest designation presented through ScionHealth's National Quality Strategy and places the Selma hospital among a select group of facilities recognized for exceptional performance in patient care, safety and satisfaction.

"We are excited to be honored among the leaders in quality at parent company ScionHealth and its network of more than 75 hospitals across 26 states," said Michael James, CEO of Vaughan Regional Medical Center. "This recognition is a testament to our team's tireless pursuit of clinical excellence and safety. It reflects well upon our mission to deliver superior, safe care and provides our community with the peace of mind that high-quality healthcare is available right here in Selma."

ScionHealth evaluates hospitals across its network using a 12-month performance measurement system designed to promote best practices and continuous improvement in patient care. The National Quality Strategy focuses on reducing patient harm while improving quality outcomes and patient experiences.

According to ScionHealth, hospitals receiving the Gold Award ranked among the company's highest performers in 2025.

Russell Pigg, president of ScionHealth's Community Hospital Division, said Vaughan Regional's commitment to quality has been evident over the past several years.

"Over the past three years, they've continued to build upon a culture where quality and safety are at the center of everything they do," Pigg said. "This award celebrates their expertise and their commitment to best practices, acknowledging a team that consistently goes above and beyond to provide the best possible care for their community."

The National Quality Strategy measures hospital performance in six key areas established by the Institute of Medicine: safety, effectiveness, patient-centered care, timeliness, efficiency and equity.

Vaughan Regional earned high marks in several categories, including efforts to reduce infections and patient falls, improve sepsis treatment and opioid stewardship, enhance patient satisfaction, reduce delays in emergency care, improve operational efficiency and address healthcare disparities.

The hospital serves as a sole community provider for Selma and the surrounding region. The 175-bed facility employs approximately 400 people and has a medical staff of more than 75 physicians representing 22 specialties. While Selma's population is about 25,000, Vaughan Regional's service area extends to approximately 90,000 residents across the region.

ScionHealth, headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, operates 77 hospital campuses in 26 states, including community hospitals and specialty facilities.

Hospital leaders said the recognition underscores Vaughan Regional's commitment to providing high-quality healthcare close to home for residents of Selma and the surrounding Black Belt region.