Media and Reputation Management Update
Wendy McClain
Director of Marketing
West Valley Awards Update
West Valley Medical Center ranks among nation’s top health care employers
Modern Healthcare has named West Valley Medical Center among the 100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare for a fifth time. West Valley is the only hospital in Idaho to make the 2018 list.
“We strive to provide a positive work environment and a family-like atmosphere across our entire organization,” Senta Cornelius, vice president of human resources for West Valley, said. “West Valley’s culture of caring and strong sense of camaraderie enhance our employees’ experience, which in turn leads to improved patient care. Our consistent recognition by Modern Healthcare is a testament to West Valley’s commitment to providing a great work environment for everyone on our team.”
Now in its eleventh year, the award program identifies and recognizes outstanding employers in the health care industry nationwide. These employers stand out in their efforts to foster an empowered and satisfied workforce. Employees with these companies then make a difference by providing patients and customers with the best possible care and services.
West Valley was announced in an alphabetical listing of Best Places to Work honorees at modernhealthcare.com. The 2018 ranked order of the honorees will be announced live Thursday, Sept. 27, in Dallas.
West Valley Medical Center Proves Commitment to Patient Safety
West Valley Medical Center once again received the 2018 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ according to Healthgrades®. West Valley is the only facility in the state of Idaho to achieve this award. The distinction places them in the top 10 percent nationwide for the second year in a row and acknowledges how effectively patients are protected from serious and potentially preventable complications during their stay at the hospital.
“This recognition is a testament to our absolute commitment to patient safety and high quality care,” explains Betsy Hunsicker, chief executive officer at West Valley Medical Center. “It is a great honor to earn the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award. Every member of West Valley has a part in fostering an environment that keeps patients safe from harm and I am proud of our entire team’s efforts that allowed us to achieve this award.”
Patient Safety Excellence Award: Real Patient Benefits
During the 2014 to 2016 study period, Healthgrades found that patients treated in hospitals receiving the Patient Safety Excellence Award were, on average:
- 55.6 percent less likely to experience an accidental cut, puncture, perforation or hemorrhage during medical care, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals
- 52.4 percent less likely to experience a collapsed lung due to a procedure or surgery in or around the chest, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals
- 62.8 percent less likely to experience catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired at the hospital, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals
- 54.3 percent less likely to experience pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals
“We applaud the hospitals who have received the Healthgrades 2018 Patient Safety Excellence Award,” said Brad Bowman, MD, chief medical officer, Healthgrades. “Their dedication and commitment to providing safe care creates tangible results for patients.”
An average of 126,342 patient safety events could have been avoided if all hospitals, as a group, performed similarly during the study period (2014-2016) to hospitals performing better than expected on each of the 13 patient safety indicators evaluated by Healthgrades. The organization determines Patient Safety Excellence Award recipients through its evaluation of the occurrence of observed incidents and expected performance for patient safety indicators as defined by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
West Valley receives eighth consecutive ‘A’ in biannual safety review
West Valley Medical Center has received its eighth consecutive “A” grade in the biannual Hospital Safety Grades published by The Leapfrog Group. The designation recognizes exceptional performance in consistently meeting evidence-based patient safety guidelines.
The “A” grade for spring 2018 is a continuation of West Valley’s record of top honors from The Leapfrog Group. Since its first Hospital Safety Grades review in 2012, the hospital has received 11 “A” grades — the most of any facility in Idaho.
“My personal goal is to make sure the safety of every patient, every day, is given top priority,” West Valley CEO Betsy Hunsicker said. “I’m incredibly proud of our providers and staff for their continued recognition from The Leapfrog Group. This ‘A’ grade represents our ability to keep our patients safe from infections and injuries, as well as medical and medication errors, while we help them achieve their personal health goals.”
Several initiatives contribute to the high level of patient safety at West Valley Medical Center, including a multidisciplinary safety committee and several safety programs to improve patient outcomes and enhance each patient’s personal experience. Additionally, investment in technology like the HUGS infant security and computerized medication management systems further ensures safety.
To see West Valley’s grade as it compare nationally and locally, visit the Hospital Safety Score website at www.hospitalsafetyscore.org. This site also provides information on how the public can protect themselves and loved ones during a hospital stay.
The Hospital Safety Grades were compiled under the guidance of the nation’s leading experts on patient safety and is designed to give the public information they can use to educate themselves and their families. Calculated in collaboration with The Leapfrog Group’s Blue Ribbon Expert Panel, the Hospital Safety Score compiles 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data into a single “grade.” That score represents any hospital’s overall capacity to keep patients safe from infections and injuries as well as medical and medication errors.
Media Features February 1 – July 2, 2018
| 2/1/2018 | Idaho Press-Tribune | WVMC and SAMG/Elm say Goodbye to Sam Summers |
| 2/9/2018 | Idaho Press-Tribune | |
| 2/14/2018 | Idaho Press-Tribune | |
| 3/1/2018 | Caldwell Perspective | West Valley now accepting scholarship applications |
| 3/1/2018 | Caldwell Perspective | Caldwell's finest recognized by Caldwell Chamber of Commerce |
| 3/1/2018 | Caldwell Perspective | Centennial Baptist Church delivers goodie bags to WVMC nurses |
| 3/6/2018 | Idaho Press-Tribune | |
| 3/12/2018 | KIVI Channel 6 | Local nurse proves laughter and singing can sometimes be the best medicine |
| 3/13/2018 | KBZM Channel 7 | |
| 3/13/2018 | KHSL Channel 12 | |
| 3/19/2018 | Emmett Messenger-Index | |
| 4/10/2018 | Idaho Press-Tribune | |
| 4/13/2018 | Idaho Press-Tribune | |
| 5/9/2018 | Idaho Press-Tribune | |
| 5/15/2018 | Idaho Press-Tribune | West Valley Medical Center gets top grades from Healthgrades |
| 5/19/2018 | Idaho Press-Tribune | |
| 6/1/2018 | Caldwell Perspective | |
| 6/1/2018 | Caldwell Perspective | West Valley Medical Center Proves Commitment to Patient Safety |
| 6/1/2018 | Caldwell Perspective | West Valley Medical Center ranks Among Nation’s Top Health Care Employers |
| 7/2/2018 | Idaho Press-Tribune |
Reputation Management
Below is a look at the online reviews (Google, Facebook, Yelp, etc...) processed second quarter 2018 in comparison to the national average for hospitals and West Valley’s all-time data.
| WVMC: April 1 – June 30, 2018 | National Average: April 1 – June 30, 2018 | WVMC -- All Time Data | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reviews Processed | 74 | 54,648 | 1,044 |
| Positive Feedback | 61 positive reviews/surveys | 40,734 positive reviews/surveys | 830 positive reviews/surveys |
| 82.43% | 74.54% | 79.50% | |
| Neutral Feedback | 1 neutral reviews/surveys | 1,642 neutral reviews/surveys | 16 neutral reviews/surveys |
| 1.35% | 3.00% | 1.53% | |
| Negative Feedback | 12 negative reviews/surveys | 12,272 negative reviews/surveys | 198 negative reviews/surveys |
| 16.22% | 22.46% | 18.97% |
How you can help…
We are in a culture that depends so much on online reviews when choosing a healthcare facility. Encourage those you interact with to share their positive patient experiences by writing an online review on Facebook, Google or Yelp. Asking your patients to share their stories online as it lets others know what to expect from us as a healthcare provider.
You can also become a part of our online community! It speaks volumes to have our medical staff share our stories on social media with their friends and family.
- Like us on Facebook: com/facebook
- Follow us on Twitter: com/twitter
- View us on YouTube: com/youtube
- See us on Instagram: @westvalleymed