Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) recently recognized Minda Hollifield, Environmental Services Technician I in Environmental Services, as the August CARE employee. Following are remarks offered by fellow employees in nominating Ms. Hollifield: “Minda has always been cheerful and helpful. She does an excellent job! Minda is such a lovely person.”

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.

Are you prepared in the event that the incidence of H1N1 (Swine) increases in Catawba County?  Now is the time to prepare by following a few steps.  Click the image below to enlarge and read a PDF about Swine Flu preparedness: 

CLICK HERE to get an Emergency Disaster Check List.

Click on the links below to valuable advice from the experts!

• CDC
• CDC- Guidance for the Obstetrical Patient
• World Health Organization
• Catawba County Public Health
• University of Minnesota CIDRAP
• NC Department of Public Health

Hickory, NC – Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) will be one of 20 hospitals and nine Emergency Medical Services who will participate in a regional disaster drill on Tuesday, July 28, 2009. The medical center is a partner in the Metrolina Trauma Advisory Committee of the State of North Carolina. Other participating hospitals include Carolinas Medical Center, Presbyterian Hospital, Lake Norman Regional Medical Center and the Blue Ridge Health Care facilities (Grace Hospital and Valdese Hospital).

“Practicing our skills is an important part of assuring that we will respond quickly and appropriately to any disaster that may occur in our community,” reports President & CEO J. Anthony Rose. “Volunteers from across our community will simulate victims to help make the incident as real as possible for our staff. Because the simulation will be realistic, we will alert our patients and visitors of this important exercise. At no time will patient care or services in our Emergency Department be affected. Anyone driving by the medical center should not be unduly concerned by an increase in the number of emergency vehicles.”

Hickory, NC--Timothy Blanchat, MD and Scott Sledge, MD have received the Fellow in Hospital Medicine (FHM) designation from the Society of Hospital Medicine. They are among only 514 physicians in the nation to achieve this endorsement. The FHM designation is earned by meeting the following criteria: Has been a hospitalist for five years, demonstrates dedication to quality and process improvement, illustrates commitment to organizational teamwork and leadership, and is actively engaged in lifelong learning and education.

The Society of Hospital Medicine is the premier medical society representing hospitalists. Over the past decade, studies have shown that hospitalists decrease patient lengths of stay, reduce hospital costs and readmission rates, all while increasing patient satisfaction. Hospital medicine is the fastest-growing specialty in modern health care, with over 28,000 hospitalists currently practicing.