Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC) is a 222-bed 501(C)(3) not-for-profit hospital in Portsmouth, Ohio, providing emergency and surgical care, as well as a wide range of other health-care services; SOMC has been in the community since 1954. It is the mission of SOMC to truly make a difference in the lives of patients, employees, and the surrounding community.

The operation of SOMC follows guidelines of The Joint Commission, the nation's predominant standards-setting body in health care, and SOMC has received top honors from that organization for meeting standards. SOMC currently employs 2,200 full time employees and part time employees, has a medical staff of more than 140 physicians and specialists, and is supported by approximately 800 regular volunteers.

SOMC, a rural hospital and one of Fortune Magazine's 100 Best Places to Work in America, is striving to provide the highest quality of care to make healthcare a remarkable experience for everyone served. It is the mission of SOMC to truly make a difference in the lives of patients, employees, and the surrounding community. The goals of SOMC encompass the mission and the organization's five strategic values, which include achieving and sustaining exceptional results in safety, quality of care, service, relationships, and financial performance.

SOMC was ranked first on Ohio's Top Employers list in 2010 and has been on the list for five consecutive years. SOMC was also named one of Fortune Magazine's 100 Best Places to Work in America. SOMC is the first hospital in the region to achieve the American Nurses Credentialing Center's highest honor, the Magnet recognition status. This honor, given to only 6% of hospitals nationwide, recognizes national excellence in nursing. Receiving the national gold standard for safety and health, SOMC has been awarded the Voluntary Protection Program Star Designation. Voluntary Protection Program is a cooperative program of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). By earning Voluntary Protection Program Star status, SOMC is in the top 1 percent of hospitals nationwide in safety excellence.