J.D. Power and Associates Reports

Catawba Valley Medical Center Recognized for Providing Outstanding Inpatient Experience For a Fourth Consecutive Year 

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 10 June 2011 — Catawba Valley Medical Center has been recognized for service excellence for a fourth consecutive year under the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital Program.^SM This distinction acknowledges a strong commitment by the hospitals to provide ‘An Outstanding Inpatient Experience.’

“Achieving high levels of patient satisfaction and loyalty—and then sustaining this performance year over year—is the goal of every hospital, but only elite healthcare facilities posses the patient-centric culture and staff dedication to deliver consistently outstanding patient experiences,” said John Clark, Director of Provider Programs at J.D. Power and Associates. “By achieving inpatient certification for a fourth consecutive year, Catawba Valley Medical Center has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to patients and their families.”

The service excellence distinction was determined by surveying recently discharged patients about their perceptions of their hospital visit and comparing the results to the national benchmarks established in the annual J.D. Power and Associates National Hospital Service Performance Study.

The telephone-based research conducted among Catawba Valley Medical Center patients focuses on the five key drivers of patient satisfaction with their overall inpatient experience. These drivers, which were identified in the national study, are: speed and efficiency, dignity and respect, comfort, information and communication, and emotional support.

Catawba Valley Medical Center exceeds the national benchmark study score for inpatient satisfaction and performs particularly well, compared with the national study, in providing patients with dignity and respect. The hospital receives notably high ratings for courtesy of doctors and nurses. The hospital also performs well in providing patients with emotional support, particularly the treatment of family and friends.

“We value the relationships we develop with our patients and their families, and we believe that the opinions of our patients are the greatest measures of our success,” says J. Anthony Rose, President and CEO of Catawba Valley Medical Center. “We are so pleased our patients have recognized us again for our quality of care. I commend our staff and physicians for their continued dedication and commitment to achieving excellence.”

Nearly 70 percent of Catawba Valley Medical Center patients surveyed say they recommend the facility to friends and family, and 73 percent say they would return to the facility if needed.

Nongovernmental, acute-care hospitals throughout the nation are eligible for the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital recognition for inpatient, maternity, cardiovascular, emergency and outpatient services. Distinction is valid for one year, after which time the hospital may reapply for this recognition.

About J.D. Power and Associates

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information service company providing forecasting, performance improvement, social media and customer satisfaction insights and solutions. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on  car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit  JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a leading global financial information and education company that helps professionals and students succeed in the Knowledge Economy. Leading brands include Standard & Poor’s, McGraw-Hill Education, Platts energy information services and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has approximately 21,000 employees with more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2010 were $6.2 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.

Media Relations Contacts: John Tews; J.D. Power and Associates; Troy, Mich.; (248) 312-4119; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates. www.jdpower.com

  

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 1, 2011

 

Catawba Valley Medical Center Recognized as ‘Red Apple’ Hospital

Taking Steps to Offer Healthier Foods for Employees and Visitors

HICKORY, NC –Catawba Valley Medical Center is taking important steps to offer healthier foods to employees and visitors including portion guidelines, healthy lifestyle education and employee incentives as part of the NC Prevention Partners’ statewide Healthy Food in Hospitals initiative. NC Prevention Partners has designated CVMC as a Red Apple Hospital because of its strong commitment to develop, promote, and sustain a healthy food environment.

“Promoting health is central to our mission to improve the health status of Catawba County. It was clear to us that we have to do something to make it easier for our employees and visitors to lead healthier lifestyles,” says J. Anthony Rose, President and CEO of Catawba Valley Medical Center.

 

The project is outlined by five core Guidelines: Access, Pricing, Marketing, Employee Benefits and Education, that all aim to make it easier for hospital employees and visitors to eat healthy.

The Nutrition Care Department at CVMC posts the weekly menu on the hospital Intranet, identifying healthier foods by using a red apple icon. Nutrition Information is posted on the foods served in the cafeteria at the point of selection, allowing customers to see calories, sodium, and fat contents in the various cafeteria foods they may select to eat. Pricing on healthier snacks and food items in the cafeteria are also reduced, identifying the ‘Red Apple’ items that are healthy to eat.

“I am proud to work at an organization that promotes a healthier food service environment,” says Martha Green, Director of Nutrition Care. “If we can encourage customers to make healthier choices and be aware of the sodium content in foods, just think about how this could impact the awareness and choices for someone who may have high blood pressure.”

Catawba Valley Medical Center is not alone in promoting a healthy food environment. NC Prevention Partners, a statewide leader in reducing preventable illness and early death works with hospitals across the state to provide healthy, affordable food options in the cafeteria, vending machines, and wherever food is sold or provided on campus. This project is funded by a grant from the Duke Endowment in a partnership with the NC Hospital Association.

Through the grant, NCPP works with hospitals in North Carolina on a five-point plan to improve their healthy food options. Anne Thornhill, MPH, a senior health promotion manager at NC Prevention Partners, is the program lead. “Healthy foods are in North Carolina hospitals’ future,” Thornhill said. “Since NC hospitals are leading the nation in going tobacco-free, it’s clear they have the commitment and leadership to adopt these policies. We know this because they are taking these steps voluntarily and we commend them.While many hospitals are already taking important steps to offer healthy options, our goal is for all hospitals to be doing more to ensure people who want healthy options can get them. With more than 500,000 meals served to employees and visitors in NC hospitals each week, it’s critical that hospitals have a big-picture plan. More than half of the hospitals in the state are actively promoting a Healthy Food Environment, putting NC on the map as the national leader in obesity prevention.

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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June 30, 2011  

Catawba Valley Medical Center Recognizes June CARE Employee

HICKORY, NC – Catawba Valley Medical Center recognized Ed Metz, RN, in the Orthopedic/Neurology Department, as the June CARE employee. A patient submitted this nomination.