The Shadow
RECOGNIZED BY VHHA — Deborah R. Lipes, former Bath Community Hospital chief executive officer, was posthumously awarded a Distinguished Service Award by the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association during its 87th annual meeting recently held at The Homestead. Her family was on hand to recieve the award. From left are John Fitzgerald, CEO of Inova Fair Oaks Hospital and the new chairman of the VHHA; David Troast, chairman of Bath Community Hospital; Lipes’ sister, Tracy Bartley and her husband, Greg; husband Ray Lipes; son David; son Sam; and daughter-in-law Adrian Lipes. Debbie Lipes worked at Bath Community Hospital for 32 years until her death in August. (Photo Courtesy of Bath Community Hospital)
RECOGNIZED BY VHHA — Deborah R. Lipes, former Bath Community Hospital chief executive officer, was posthumously awarded a Distinguished Service Award by the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association during its 87th annual meeting recently held at The Homestead. Her family was on hand to recieve the award. From left are John Fitzgerald, CEO of Inova Fair Oaks Hospital and the new chairman of the VHHA; David Troast, chairman of Bath Community Hospital; Lipes’ sister, Tracy Bartley and her husband, Greg; husband Ray Lipes; son David; son Sam; and daughter-in-law Adrian Lipes. Debbie Lipes worked at Bath Community Hospital for 32 years until her death in August. (Photo Courtesy of Bath Community Hospital)
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HOT SPRINGS — The late Deborah R. Lipes, former CEO of Bath Community Hospital, has been awarded a Distinguished Service Award from the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.
Lipes’ family received the award last week during the 87th annual meeting of the VHHA membership at The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs.
The VHHA bestowed its 2013 Outstanding Service Awards on three Virginians for their leadership and significant contributions to hospitals and health systems and to health care in general.
In addition to Lipes, Shendon M. Retchin, MD, MSPH, senior vice president for Health Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University and CEO of VCU Health System in Richmond, and Frank R. Campbell, PhD, chairman of Danville Regional Medical Center Board of Directors, were also recognized.
Lipes was awarded post-humously the 2013 Distinguished Service Award, which honors past or present CEOs of VHHA member institutions who have long records of performing outstanding, valuable or uni-que services to the hospital and health system community.
Her service to Bath Community Hospital spanned 32 years. She began her career as a registered nurse and climbed the ladder to CEO due to her astute judgments and overall determination to provide health care to those in rural areas.
She ensured the viability of programs and survivability of the hospital, working to make the hospital Virginia’s first Critical Access Hospital.
When she began her career as a registered nurse at the hospital, Mrs. Lipes implemented the stress testing unit and cardiac rehab program. Recognizing her strengths, she was promoted to director of Clinical Services, where she was instrumental in purchasing the hospital’s first CDT scanner.
Using data on long wait times for transferring critically ill patients to other facilities, she pushed for the implementation of a transport system, providing quicker transfers, better patient outcomes and ensuring that patients get to their needed medical destination in a timely fashion.
Lipes was very active in the Virginia Telehealth Network, implementing the hospital’s Telehealth and Tele-Stroke program. Additionally, under her direction, Bath Community Hospital was accredited by The Joint Commission and has not had any deficiencies for nine years. She ensured that staff have what they need for excellent patient care and safety.
She served on the Alleghany Highland’s Free Clinic Board upon its inception.
During her tenure, the clinic hired a nurse practitioner and promoted the provision of care to those less fortunate.
Her service to the Virginia Rural Health Association kept her apprised of opportunities for rural areas and enhanced the availability of monies that were used for patient safety and quality.
Mrs. Lipes not only was concerned with care for the sick, she also supported community wellness. Bath Community Hospital opened a wellness fitness facility, Bath Community Rehab and Wellness, which integrates health and wellness through use of dieticians, physical therapists, respiratory therapists and other disciplines. In recent years, she also forged partnerships with Highland Medical Center and Augusta Medical Center and Carilion Clinic.
Mrs. Lipes retired as CEO of Bath Community in June 2013. On Friday, Aug. 2, she passed away at the age of 56, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
She is survived by her husband Ray; two sons, Sam and his wife Adrian, and David; and one granddaughter, Catherine, among other beloved family and friends.
