Andy McDonald Register Correspondent

Berea Mayor Bruce Fraley congratulated St . Joseph Berea Hospital recently after the facility landed two awards for excellence , one for outstanding patient care and the other recognizing the facility as one of the best places to work in Kentucky .

“ St . Joseph Berea Hospital has been one of our largest employers , and on March 12 , St . Joseph Berea received the 2024 Patient Experience Award . That was their second straight year , and the hospital was recognized for being in the top 10 percent for patient experience . That ’ s right here in our community ,” Fraley remarked at the council ’ s March 19 business meeting . “ We had Rhonda Anglin McMaster here not long ago , and for John Yanes , their president , and to their entire staff , congratulations on that prestigious award .”

The recognition for patient care was awarded by Healthgrades . Fraley continued :

“ Three days later , on March 15 , St . Joseph

Berea was recognized as one of the best places to work in Kentucky ,” he said , citing a list compiled by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Society for Resource

Management .

Part of CHI St . Joseph Health , St . Joseph Berea Hospital also has a 5-star rating as part of CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid

Services .

The news comes following another achievement recently announced by St . Joseph Berea at a February meeting of the Berea City

Council . The facility

recently landed

$ 350,000 in federal funds for a nuclear medicine camera that will enhance early diagnosis and potentially save lives . At that meeting , Cardiovascular Services

and Nuclear Medicine Manager Rhonda Anglin McMaster thanked officials and the St . Joseph Berea Foundation for their assistance . “ St . Joseph has worked with the City of Berea and Congressman Andy Barr ’ s office to obtain congressional funding for Health Resources and Services Association funding for $ 350,000 to purchase a nuclear medicine camera ,” McMaster said . “ I would like to extend a thank you to Mayor Fraley and for Susan Meeks and Rose Beverly for working on the grant documentation .”

Fraley has stated that part of building and maintaining a strong community is in having quality health care to serve local residents , but he added St . Joseph Berea also plays an important role as one of the city ’ s largest and oldest employers , which has its origins back in 1898 as part of Berea College .

“ We have great employers , and St . Joseph is a shining example . Hats off to them , and I ’ m glad to know we ’ ve got good health care right here in our hometown ,” Fraley said .