New Electronic Health Record and Patient Portal

South Peninsula Hospital (SPH) will roll out a new electronic health record (EHR) in August. Known throughout the industry as Epic, and with a patient portal named MyChart, this new EHR is expected to help streamline care and improve experience for both the patients and the staff who provide their care. This change will happen in all patient care areas except Long Term Care and Home Health, which are separately licensed facilities.  The go-live dates are Saturday, August 9 at the hospital and Monday, August 11 at the clinics. 

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Leadership transitions at SPH

Rachael Kincaid, DNP, APRN, has been named South Peninsula Hospital’s Chief Operating Officer. Rachael has served as the organization’s Chief Nursing Officer and Long Term Care Administrator since 2022. 

Rachael received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Medical University of South Carolina with a focus on gerontology. Prior to South Peninsula Hospital, she worked in the greater Charlotte, North Carolina area, specializing in hospice and palliative care. Rachael succeeds Angela Hinnegan who recently left after five years on the hospital’s leadership team to serve as Chief Financial Officer at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna.

Amber Gall, RN, has been named the new Chief Nursing Officer. Amber has been a trusted nursing leader at SPH as Director of Surgical Services since 2020, where she successfully increased department staff retention, decreased the need for travel staff and expanded surgical services offered locally.  Prior to SPH, Amber worked in Wyoming in both critical access and surgical specialty hospitals. She looks forward to being part of the executive leadership team with a continued commitment to high standards of care, staff development, and patient-centered practices.

Ryan Smith, hospital CEO, feels fortunate to have such talented leaders already in place to make for an easy transition. “Rachael and Amber have earned deep respect and trust from both our medical staff and employees in a short period of time. Their strong ties to the community, deep understanding of our organization, and unwavering dedication to patient care position them to make a meaningful impact on the hospital’s future. We are also incredibly grateful to Angela Hinnegan for her exceptional leadership and service as COO. Her steady guidance has laid a strong foundation, and we deeply appreciate her many contributions to our mission and team.”

SPH Long Term Care Earns 2025 National Quality Award

South Peninsula Hospital’s Long Term Care (SPH LTC) has been recognized as a 2025 Silver – Achievement in Quality Award recipient by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). The award is the second of three distinctions possible through the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program, which recognizes organizations that meet progressively rigorous standards of performance to further improve the lives of residents and staff in long term care.

“Earning the Silver award is an incredible honor for our team,” said Katie Martin, Director of Nursing and Licensed Nursing Home Administrator of South Peninsula Hospital Long Term Care. “This accomplishment reflects our commitment to continuously improving the quality of care and services we provide to our residents each day. We are proud of the progress we’ve made and remain dedicated to continuing our efforts toward providing high quality care to our elders and others in need of long term care.”

The National Quality Award Program has three progressive levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. At the Silver level, recipients have met the criteria for the Bronze award and can now move on to the final and most prestigious level of the program, the Gold – Excellence in Quality Award. Trained examiners review each application to determine if the center has met the demands of the criteria.

Data shows that Silver and Gold awarded providers outperform the rest of the nation. SPH LTC earned the bronze level in 2024, and has continued with significant improvements in several key areas, particularly in workforce development and quality of care. These advancements have led to better resident outcomes, including reduced hospitalizations and emergency room visits, decreased use of antipsychotic medications, fewer depressive symptoms among residents, and lower staff turnover rates.

In response to workforce needs, SPH LTC has successfully developed, implemented, and sustained an in-house Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) training program. These efforts have contributed to high satisfaction rates among residents, their families, and staff.

“Earning the Silver award is no small feat, and South Peninsula Hospital Long Term Care has demonstrated exceptional commitment to quality improvement,” said Cathy Bergland, AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board Chair. “This recognition is a clear reflection of their hard work and unwavering focus on delivering superior care and service to residents and staff.”

The National Quality Awards will be presented during the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo, October 19-22, 2025, in Las Vegas, NV.  More information on SPH Long Term Care can be found at https://www.sphosp.org/services/long-term-care/.