Latest news with #HuntsvilleHospital
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Huntsville Hospital releases statement following ‘F' grade on Leapfrog Hospital Safety report
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Huntsville Hospital released a statement following a Leapfrog Hospital Safety report grade that said the hospital received an 'F.' You can read the full statement from Huntsville Hospital below. The Leapfrog survey is not an accurate measure of patient safety at HuntsvilleHospital. The hospital did not complete this voluntary 353-page survey, yet Leapfrogchose to publish a rating with incomplete information. This process is unfair to thethousands of dedicated clinicians working around the clock to care for the community andrespond to emergencies anytime they are called. Huntsville Hospital is consistently ranked by US News as the second-best hospital inAlabama ( The hospital is fullyaccredited by the Joint Commission, the gold standard for hospital quality and safety,holding hospitals accountable for over 250 standards measured in person by a sevenperson survey team. Forbes considers HH one of the best employers in Alabamaand Newsweek named HH one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women. HH'scardiac surgery programs was recognized by Healthgrades as one of America's 50 bestprograms seven years in a row. HH is a certified stroke center and accredited by theAmerican College of Surgeon's Commission on Cancer. Blue Cross and Blue Shieldrecognizes HH for distinction in cardiac care, spine surgery, bariatric surgery, andmaternity care. Every employee and physician in the HH Health System completesmandatory training in patient safety and high reliability. HH excels in most quality ratingsand scores poorly in a Leapfrog survey that it does not complete. Huntsville Hospital takes care of the sickest patients in north Alabama and southernTennessee. Mortality ratings referenced in the Leapfrog survey fail to account for theseverity of illness managed by hospitals that accept transfers of patients needing thehighest level of care. To ensure we are providing these patients the best possible care,Huntsville Hospital dedicates significant resources to specialty specific clinical databasesincluding the Society of Thoracic Surgery, American College of Cardiology NCDR Registry,Vermont Oxford neonatology database, National Surgical Quality Improvement Program,National Trauma database, and Cancer Registry. The perception of this matter is not lost on us. Going forward, Huntsville Hospital andMadison Hospital will add the significant resources that are required to complete a surveyof Leapfrog's scope. While we would rather have these staff members taking care ofpatients, and we recognize that Leapfrog may not be the best indicator of hospital quality,allowing an organization to suggest we do not prioritize patient safety is an afront todedicated care givers and first responders working around the clock to make Huntsville abetter place to live. Huntsville Hospital This statement comes after an independent, nonprofit organization, The Leapfrog Group, released its first of two yearly grade reports and both Huntsville Hospital and Madison Hospital received an F. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Falkville double homicide suspect found competent to stand trial
May 30—A man charged in a 2023 double homicide in Falkville was ruled mentally competent to stand trial Wednesday in a Morgan County courtroom, though a trial date has not been set. Joshua Lamar Knighten, 38, appeared in Morgan County Circuit Judge Charles Elliott's courtroom with his attorneys James Burney and Brian White. He is charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of attempted murder. Elliott in August had issued an order for Knighten to have a mental exam at the request of the defendant. At Knighten's preliminary hearing in 2023, Morgan County sheriff's Investigator Caleb Brooks testified that during a forensic interview Knighten admitted he had not been able to afford his prescribed medication and reported that he "heard voices in his head." Knighten has been incarcerated in the Morgan County Jail without bond since his Feb. 5, 2023, arrest. On that date, deputies responded to a 911 call at a Falkville residence located at 53 SE Goodwin Road. When they arrived, they found Knighten lying on the ground and telling them he "did not mean to." "How many lives did I end tonight?" Knighten asked Morgan County sheriff's Cpl. Jacob Raburn as he was placed in a patrol vehicle, according to an affidavit by Brooks. Deputies found the body of Mitchell Ray Beard, 62, of Falkville, who Knighten had shot multiple times while Beard was inside his vehicle, according to the Morgan County Sheriff's Office. Another man was found inside the residence with multiple gunshot wounds. Another man was found inside the residence with multiple gunshot wounds. He was identified as 36-year-old Marcus Ken Reed, Beard's stepson. The Sheriff's Office said Reed was transported to Huntsville Hospital but died from his wounds two days later. Knighten also allegedly shot Sarah Conley, who left the scene before deputies arrived. She later showed up at the Falkville Police Department with several gunshot wounds. Investigators recovered a 9mm Glock-19 on the driveway and a Springfield XDM Elite 9mm pistol inside Knighten's residence. Both firearms have been listed by the Sheriff's Office as the murder weapons. According to the affidavit, Knighten made a 911 call and told dispatchers if no one at the residence would tell him who had been stealing from his uncle, "that they was ready to die." Two other people may have been present at the scene of the shootings. Harald Hommers, a Georgia resident, said shortly after the shooting that Reed's fiancée and her young daughter were also there during the incident. "My daughter and my granddaughter were luckily able to take cover and not be shot, but (the suspect) was shooting actively at them," Hommers said at the time. Authorities have not provided details about these other individuals, but Morgan County sheriff's spokesman Mike Swafford said other people were present. Knighten pleaded not guilty to all charges on Feb. 6, 2023. — or 256-340-2442.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Yahoo
Trial for ex-Gurley police officer charged with manslaughter moved to October
GURLEY, Ala. (WHNT) — A former Gurley police officer charged with manslaughter in a deadly 2023 wreck will stand trial in October, according to court documents. Christopher Whalen is set to stand trial on October 6, according to court documents. Whalen is charged with manslaughter in the death of Matthew Norwood, who was killed from injuries sustained during a wreck near the intersection of Interstate 565 and Jordan Lane, according to ALEA. Norwood was driving a Toyota Corolla when he was hit by the Ford Explorer driven by Whalen, who was pursuing a Nissan Maxima. The Explorer was Whalen's on-duty assigned patrol vehicle. ALEA said the Nissan Maxima was not struck or directly involved in the crash. Norwood was transported to Huntsville Hospital following the wreck, where he died from injuries. Whalen was also transported to Huntsville Hospital to be treated for his injuries. In November 2023, ALEA told News 19 that they had concluded their investigation into the chase and turned over the findings to the Madison County District Attorney's Office. In January, Whalen resigned from the Gurley Police Department, according to a Town of Gurley official. The official said that Whalen is no longer affiliated with the town in any capacity and that the town's investigation was never finalized as Whalen resigned before it had been completed. A Madison County Grand Jury indicted Whalen on August 30, 2024. He previously had a trial date set for February of this year. Following several continuation motions that were granted, he will now stand trial later in 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
Marquette's attorneys ask appeals court to remove Judge Elliott from murder case
Mar. 13—Attorneys for former Decatur police officer Mac Marquette have filed a motion with the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals requesting the recusal of District Judge Charles Elliott from Marquette's upcoming murder trial. In the motion filed Friday, Marquette's attorneys allege that Elliott prematurely decided to deny their client's stand your ground immunity request ahead of a hearing scheduled for March 25. According to the filing, Elliott allegedly informed Decatur police Lt. Mike Burleson of his intention to deny the request. "Burleson recounted this conversation, which was either witnessed or overheard by another individual, who then informed Marquette," the motion states. The filing accuses Elliott of violating the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics by engaging in a series of private, or ex parte, conversations about the recusal motion that it describes as "improper." It also claims Elliott is denying Marquette his due process right to present his case in court, including the ability to subpoena witnesses to support his allegations. As a result, Marquette's attorneys filed a request for a stay to pause proceedings in circuit court until the appellate court rules on whether Elliott should be removed from the case. According to Decatur police, on Sep. 29, 2023, Marquette and three other Decatur police officers responded to a home on Ryan Drive Southwest for a vehicle repossession. The homeowner, Steve Perkins, had confronted a tow truck driver from Allstar Recovery around 1:30 a.m. and was accused of brandishing a firearm during the dispute. Based on doorbell camera footage and partial bodycam footage that was leaked, the officers accompanied the tow truck driver to repossess Perkins' truck again and as the driver attempted to repossess the truck, Perkins walked back outside and said "Hey, put the truck down." Two seconds later, Marquette appeared from behind Perkins' truck and said "Hey, hey! Police! Get on the ground!" before firing multiple rounds at Perkins, according to the released footage. Marquette continued firing even after Perkins collapsed, emptying his magazine. Decatur police later said Perkins aimed a firearm equipped with a flashlight at Marquette when the shots were fired. Perkins was placed in handcuffs and transported by ambulance to Huntsville Hospital, where he later died, according to police. On Jan. 5, Morgan County District Attorney Scott Anderson announced a grand jury had unanimously returned a murder indictment against Marquette. Marquette is also appealing his termination by Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling. Judge Elliott issued a gag order on May 24, barring police, witnesses and attorneys involved in the case from speaking publicly until after Marquette's trial concludes. The trial is scheduled to begin April 7. — or 256-340-2442.
