CARF International announced recently that Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) has been accredited for a period of three years for its inpatient rehabilitation programs. The latest accreditation is the fourth consecutive Three-Year Accreditation that the international accrediting body has awarded to CVMC. The medical center received initial accreditation in 2000.

This accreditation represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable and accountable.

All year long, Catawba Valley Medical Center’s (CVMC) Lifeline program celebrates Independence Day by providing older adults with the sense of security they need to maintain an independent lifestyle. Lifeline clients and their family members know the comfort of living in one’s own home. In honor of independence, Lifeline will be offering free installation with no subscriber cost for the month of June to new subscribers, an $80 value. Alma Bentley of Catawba knows first-hand about the benefits of CVMC’s Lifeline program, crediting it with saving her life.

Ms. Bentley enjoys watching birds around her farmhouse. One unfortunate morning she slipped while settling into her favorite chair by the window, injured her legs and could not get up. “I called Lifeline and told the CarePartner Communicator what happened to me,” said Ms. Bentley. “Very soon paramedics came to take me to the hospital where the doctor examined me. I was released later that day to come home with my son.

Catawba Valley Medical Center invites healthcare professionals and the community to attend the next ‘Conversations in Ethics’ to be held from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 21 in the Northwest AHEC Lecture Hall, Room 112. This monthly, no-charge meeting provides an opportunity for discussion of some of the most important issues facing the healthcare profession today.

Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) recently recognized Jimmy Mask, maintenance technician in Plant Operations, as the May CARE employee.

Following are remarks offered by fellow employees in nominating Mask: “Jimmy is a compassionate and caring employee. He is very courteous and cooperative with everyone, always with a calm, rational attitude. Because Jimmy is also a good problem solver, many CVMC departments request help from Jimmy when needing service in their work areas. It is a pleasure to work with Jimmy.”

Catawba Valley Medical Center’s CARE employee, nominated monthly by employees and guests, embodies Courtesy, Attitude, Respect and Enthusiasm for commitment to maintaining a positive guest relations atmosphere while demonstrating a sincere compassion and concern for patients and fellow staff members.