January 9, 2012

• Increasing delivery of recommended evidence-based care to every patient, every time for 91 percent of the population. For example, providing flu vaccinations to all pneumonia patients, or prescribing a high blood pressure or chest pain medication to all heart attack patients prior to discharge.
• Saving lives by reducing avoidable hospital mortalities. The observed mortality to expected mortality rate (O/E) decreased from a baseline ratio of 1.3 to an O/E ratio of 0.81.
• Safely reducing the cost of care for each patient's hospitalization by an average of $5,294 to $3,950 per patient. 

• Members' observed mortality is five percent lower than non-participants when compared to what is expected.
• Member costs for inpatient care have increased only four percent, compared to a national cost increase of 21 percent.
• Members began increasing adherence to evidence-based care delivery in patient experience, harm and readmissions last year to support new improvement goals such as those proposed by the Partnership for Patients program.
• Premier will announce complete year three collaborative results in January.           

            Susan DeVore, Premier president and CEO said, “These hospitals challenged themselves to overcome process failures and excessive costs by measuring themselves against each other to drive success. The achievements made by QUEST members are remarkable as they continue to reveal what is possible in healthcare. CVMC is a true standard setter for top quality care in America, as they support the health of people in their community.”

            An advisory panel of experts from the country’s top health organizations, such as the National Quality Forum, The Joint Commission and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, guide collaborative members to achieve success.

About the Premier healthcare alliance, Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient

            Premier is a performance improvement alliance of more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals and 80,000-plus other healthcare sites using the power of collaboration to lead the transformation to high quality, cost-effective care. Owned by hospitals, health systems and other providers, Premier maintains the nation's most comprehensive repository of clinical, financial and outcomes information and operates a leading healthcare purchasing network. A world leader in helping deliver measurable improvements in care, Premier has worked with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the United Kingdom's National Health Service North West to improve hospital performance. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Premier also has an office in Washington. http://www.premierinc.com. Stay connected with Premier on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

         Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory, N.C., is the region’s largest not-for-profit, public healthcare system and serves the community without direct funding from taxes. CVMC provides and promotes physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being of the public in addition to serving as a center for health education, wellness services, preventive medicine and acute care. CVMC has received three Magnet designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and has been recognized for providing “An Outstanding Inpatient Experience” for a fourth consecutive year by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information, please visit www.catawbavalleymedical.org.

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HICKORY, NC—Catawba Valley Medical Center’s (CVMC) Comprehensive Cancer Center has completed installation of a new True Beam linear accelerator with IMRT, IGRT and RapidArc^TM capabilities. This is the most advanced cancer treatment option currently available nationwide. CVMC is the first Cancer Center to have a True Beam ^TM in the Carolinas.

This revolutionary technology will allow more precise treatments of cancers and lesions, including brain tumors. This type of treatment uses targeted beams of radiation to destroy cancerous tissue and cells much like surgery would, but from outside the body without the need for incisions. Image-guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery can make treatment more comfortable, less time consuming and can reduce side effects.

“Prior to this technology, most patients with brain tumors would be sent out of town. Now, this treatment is available here,” says Len Hurst, Director of Radiation Oncology at CVMC. “With the True Beam, a Standard IMRT treatment, which normally lasts 10-15 minutes, can be completed in a time shorter than three minutes. A complex radiosurgery operation, which lasts 40 minutes to two hours, can be completed in 5-20 minutes. It also performs accuracy control every 10 milliseconds throughout treatment. Patients may experience reduced side effects due to shorter treatment time and higher treatment accuracy. This is a great piece of technology CVMC has invested in and it will greatly benefit members of our community.”

Services offered at CVMC’s Comprehensive Cancer Center include: nurse navigation, mobile mammography, a PET/CT Center, Radiation Oncology, an Infusion Center, a Community Cancer Resource Center, cancer support groups and the True Beam linear accelerator. 

Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory, N.C., is the region’s largest not-for-profit, public healthcare system and serves the community without direct funding from taxes. CVMC provides and promotes physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being of the public in addition to serving as a center for health education, wellness services, preventive medicine and acute care. CVMC has received three Magnet designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and has been recognized for providing “An Outstanding Inpatient Experience” for a fourth consecutive year by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information, please visit www.catawbavalleymedical.org. 

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Next Support Group Meeting for those “A.W.A.K.E. In The Foothills”

HICKORY, NC –Catawba Valley Medical Center’s (CVMC) Health First Center at Valley Hills Mall in conjunction with CVMC’s Center for Sleep Disorders, hosts a sleep apnea awareness program called “A.W.A.K.E. In the Foothills.” This program is part of the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) A.W.A.K.E. (Alert, Well And Keeping Energetic) Network.

The purpose of this program is to provide support to individuals, friends, and family members dealing with sleep apnea. The group will promote education and sharing of ideas and information among persons who are affected by sleep disordered breathing.

“We hope that we can help each other with similar interests, problems, and solutions,” said Mr. Scott Gibson RRT, RCP, A.W.A.K.E. Group Coordinator and Director of The Center For Sleep Disorders and Neuro Diagnostic Services at Catawba Valley Medical Center.

The next meeting will be held Monday, December 19, from 6p.m. to 8p.m. at the Health First Center. The program is free. Speakers will be present and snacks will be provided from a variety of vendors. For more information about this local chapter, please contact Scott Gibson at 828/485-2813

Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory, N.C., is the region’s largest not-for-profit, public healthcare system and serves the community without direct funding from taxes. CVMC provides and promotes physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being of the public in addition to serving as a center for health education, wellness services, preventive medicine and acute care. CVMC has received three Magnet designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and has been recognized for providing “An Outstanding Inpatient Experience” for a fourth consecutive year by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information, please visit www.catawbavalleymedical.org.

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Catawba Valley Medical Center Recognizes December 2011 CARE Employee

HICKORY, NC – Catawba Valley Medical Center recognized Matthew Lancaster, Attendant II in the Radiological Imaging Department, as the December 2011 CARE employee.

Following are remarks offered in nominating Matthew: “Matt is friendly, respectful and caring. He puts the patients’ needs first all the time, every time. Matt always has a positive attitude and is polite to all patients, families and co-workers. “A patient made a comment the other day, ‘It is nice to wake up to someone with a smile on their face for you.’” Congratulations, Matthew!

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.

Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory, N.C. is the region’s largest not-for-profit, public healthcare system and serves the community without direct funding from taxes. CVMC provides and promotes physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being of the public in addition to serving as a center for health education, wellness services, preventive medicine and acute care. CVMC has received three Magnet designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and has been recognized for providing “An Outstanding Inpatient Experience” for a fourth consecutive year by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information, please visit www.catawbavalleymedical.org.

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