Philadelphia, PA (April 14, 2026) - Roxborough Memorial Hospital has been honored with the 2026 Achievement Award in the Optimal Operations category by The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP). This is the first time the hospital has received a HAP Achievement Award. Out of 125 entries, Roxborough was recognized for its successful, data-driven revitalization of its Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF). This initiative aims to enhance access to valuable post-acute care, improve patient outcomes, increase community discharges, and optimize hospital operations.

"The 2026 HAP Achievement Awards highlight the innovative ways hospitals are delivering outstanding results for patients," said HAP President and CEO Nicole Stallings. "Hospitals are vital to Pennsylvania, working inside and outside their walls to improve health and strengthen the communities they serve."

Entries for the award were evaluated in two divisions based on the size of the organization and included several categories: Workforce Innovators, Optimal Operations, Excellence in Care, Community Champions, and In Safe Hands. The prestigious Living the Vision Award, recognizing transformative work that enhances care and value, was selected from all entries. Submissions were assessed based on specific criteria, including results and adaptability.

Roxborough's submission, titled "Reinvigorating the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit: A Strategic Plan for Growth and Optimal Outcomes," laid out a focused two-year strategy to improve the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit, which had been facing challenges such as low patient numbers and extended hospital stays. A thorough assessment revealed five main issues: a rising demand for rehabilitation services, risks of not meeting healthcare standards, an average hospital stay of nearly six days prior to early 2024, a low discharge rate of 55.4%, and only two patients being cared for daily. In early 2024, hospital leadership approved a comprehensive plan focusing on three main areas: enhancing patient care and access, streamlining operations and staffing, and managing finances to support overall hospital goals.

The clinical strategy included recruiting a board-certified physiatrist as the IRF Medical Director to enhance clinical triage and physician engagement. It also instituted regular education for physicians and residents on IRF benefits and admission criteria, standardized clinical pathways, and integrated functional outcome measures into electronic health records for consistent tracking. Operational changes involved hiring dedicated therapists and specialized nursing staff, implementing flexible staffing models, and launching mentorship programs to build capacity and retain talent. Financial strategies included a targeted marketing approach to boost referrals and embedding performance metrics into hospital dashboards to align growth with patient flow and financial objectives.

"Our IRF transformation reflects strategic leadership, clinical collaboration, and a strong focus on patient-centered recovery," said Shawn Parekh, Chief Executive Officer of Roxborough Memorial Hospital. "By aligning clinical standards, workforce capacity, and targeted outreach, we have restored the IRF as a reliable pathway to home for patients who previously faced long acute stays or institutional discharges. This recognition from HAP celebrates our team's dedication and our commitment to excellence in community-based rehabilitation."

Key contributors to the award submission and program implementation included Shawn Parekh, CEO; Melissa Robinson, Rehab Director; Dr. Alfred Schupp, Physiatrist; and Michelle Aliprantis, Regional Director of Marketing and Communications for Prime Healthcare Pennsylvania Region. Their collaborative efforts-encompassing executive sponsorship, clinical leadership, operational design, workforce development, and outreach-were crucial to revitalizing the IRF and achieving measurable improvement.

The initiative emphasized health equity by removing barriers to access, personalizing discharge plans to address social determinants of health, requiring cultural competence training, and enhancing patient communication and logistical support. Designed for scalability and replication, the model's core components-specialized leadership, workforce development, process standardization, strategic referrals, and data-driven monitoring-can be adapted across various hospital settings to improve post-acute care outcomes and community access.

Roxborough Memorial Hospital is one of 12 Pennsylvania hospital and health system projects recognized by HAP in 2026. Winners will be honored at HAP's annual Leadership Summit J une 2-3 in Hershey. Additional information and details about this year's award-winning initiatives are available online.

Winning Award Submission: HAP 2026-OPTIMAL OPERATIONS-

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About HAP: The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) is a statewide member services organization that advocates on behalf of Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems to advance high-quality, accessible, and financially sustainable health care. HAP's more than 235 member organizations include the majority of hospitals across the commonwealth. Learn more at www.haponline.org.

Roxborough Memorial Hospital: Roxborough Memorial Hospital is a 146-bed community hospital. The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of the Roxborough, Manayunk, East Falls and northwest section of Philadelphia communities for more than a century, having first opened its doors in 1890. Roxborough Memorial Hospitals School of Nursing has been educating nurses since 1898. The hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation's oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency. As a member of Prime Healthcare Services, headquartered in Ontario, California, Roxborough Memorial Hospital is focused on becoming one of the leaders in technology. For more information, please visit www.roxboroughmemorial.com.

About Prime Healthcare and the Prime Healthcare Foundation: Prime Healthcare is an award-winning health system operating 51 hospitals and more than 360 outpatient locations in 14 states, providing over 2.5 million patient visits annually. It is one of the nation's leading health systems, with nearly 57,000 employees and physicians. Eighteen of the Prime Healthcare hospitals are members of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity. Based in Ontario, California, Prime Healthcare is nationally recognized for award-winning quality care and has been named a 10 Top and 15 Top Health System by Truven Health Analytics. Its hospitals have been named among the nation's "100 Top Hospitals" 69 times and have received more Patient Safety Excellence Awards from Healthgrades than any other health system in the past eight years. To learn more about Prime Healthcare, visit: www.primehealthcare.com. To learn more about Prime Healthcare Foundation, visit: www.primehealthcarefoundation.org.

For more information, visit roxboroughmemorial.com and connect with us on social media:

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roxboroughmemorialhospital/

Contact

Michelle Aliprantis, MBA

Regional Director of Marketing and Communications

Office: 215.785.9817

[email protected]

Contact:

Kim Yakowski, HAP

717-460-6813

[email protected]