Cape Fear Valley Holds Health Pavilion Hoke Topping Off Ceremony

RAEFORD - Cape Fear Valley Health on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, held a topping-off ceremony for its Health Pavilion Hoke outpatient facility off U.S. 401, near the Cumberland County line.

The multi-million dollar facility wille eventually provide much-needed outpatient services for Hoke and southwestern Cumberland County residents, including: digital x-ray, mammography and ultrasound; urgent care for minor injuries and illnesses; family medicine; specialized medical services; and an on-campus pharmacy for patient convenience.

Health Pavilion Hoke is just the first phase of a $92 million investment by Cape Fear Valley Health in Hoke County. It will eventually be joined by Hoke Medical Center, a new 41-bed acute care hospital, which will also be built on the same campus.

Ceremony photos can be viewed at www.capefearvalley.com/hph_topoff

Hufham Appointed 4 South Manager

FAYETTEVILLE – Jessica Hufham, RN, has been appointed 4 South Patient Care Manager at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

The Garland native joined Cape Fear Valley Health in 2003 as an Emergency Department staff nurse. She most recently held the position of Lead RN Case Manager/Supervisor with the Coordination of Care department. 

Hufham received her associate’s degree in Nursing from Sampson Community College in Clinton. She is currently pursing her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Grand Canyon University.

In her new position, Hufham will oversee all aspects of patient care on 4 South, a medical telemetry department.

Dr. DeFoe Appointed Cancer Liaison Physician

FAYETTEVILLE – Sarahgene Gillianne DeFoe, M.D., has been appointed Cancer Liaison Physician for the Cape Fear Valley Cancer Treatment and CyberKnife^© Center. The appointment is for three years.

Dr. DeFoe is among more than 1,500 volunteer physicians who comprise the Cancer Liaison Physician network. The volunteers evaluate, interpret and report their respective facility’s performance data to the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). They then help implement quality improvement initiatives at their facilities based on the collected data.

NCDB data contains data, such as patient demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment, and outcome information for more than 25 million malignant cancers diagnosed and treated in the U.S. between 1985 and 2009.

Cancer Liaison Physicians also spearhead local initiatives championed by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer (CoC). The CoC collects data from accredited cancer programs and provides tools to help diagnose, treat and improve quality of care for patients. 

Dr. DeFoe received her medical degree from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pittsburgh, Penn. She completed a residency in radiation oncology at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Penn. During her residency, she received extensive training in stereotactic radiosurgery, including the CyberKnife^© Robotic Stereotactic Radiosurgery System.

Stonestreet Appointed Chief Nursing Officer

FAYETTEVILLE – Jana Stonestreet, Ph.D., RN, NEA-BC, has been appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer with Cape Fear Valley Health.

The native of Missourri has more than 26 years of nursing leadership experience. She previously held the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer with Vanguard Health Systems, a national healthcare network. Prior to that she served as Chief Nursing Executive with Baptist Health System in San Antonio, Texas. 

She was also a Chief Patient Care Officer with Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital in Houston, Texas, and a Chief Nursing Officer with Methodist Healthcare System in San Antonio, Texas.

Stonestreet received her master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Science in Galveston, Texas. She received her doctorate in Nursing from Texas Woman’s University of Houston, Texas. 

In her new position, Stonestreet will oversee all aspects of nursing at Cape Fear Valley Health. It is the ninth largest health system in North Carolina and employs approximately 1,500 nurses. 

CEO Appointed To State Council

FAYETTEVILLE – Cape Fear Valley CEO Mike Nagowski has been appointed by Gov. Beverly Perdue to the State Health Coordinating Council (SHCC). He was sworn in April 19, during a ceremony inside the Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Board Room.

The SHCC helps develop the annual State Medical Facilities Plan, which must be approved by the governor every year. The plan is an annual document that helps determine the need for new healthcare facilities and services in North Carolina, such as hospitals and expensive medical equipment purchases.

Marshall Faircloth, a Cumberland County Commissioner and Chairman of the Cape Fear Valley Board of Trustees, performed the swearing in ceremony, on behalf of Gov. Perdue. Nagowski’s appointment is for a three-year term that expires on Dec. 31, 2014.

Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Recognized For Pediatric Nurse Staffing

FAYETTEVILLE – The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PCNB) has recognized Cape Fear Valley’s Children’s Center and Children’s Emergency Department for having at least five certified pediatric nurses on staff.

The certified pediatric nurses at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center are: Ida Zuniga, RN, BSN, CPN; Patricia Brady, RN, BSN, CPN; Amy Frazier, RN, CPN; Cheryl Norris, RN, BSN, CPN; Jacquelyn Allen, RN, CPN; and Lorena Sanchez, RN, CPN, CPEN.

Cape Fear Valley is just one of 16 hospitals in the state and one of approximately 300 nationwide to receive the distinction, which recognizes the pursuit of excellence in the pediatric nursing field.

Hospitals that achieve the “5 or More” distinction receive a commemorative certificate and are listed on the PCNB’s website at http://www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/news/hospitals_with_cpns.

Weatherly Named Bladen County Hospital President

ELIZABETHTOWN – Dan Weatherly has been appointed President of Bladen County Hospital.

The native of Harrisburg, Ill., has more than 16 years of experience in healthcare. He previously held the position of Interim CEO at the hospital. Prior to that, he was Director of Outpatient Operations with Cape Fear Valley Health, responsible for developing and growing outpatient volumes for Hoke, Bladen and southern Cumberland counties.

He was also a Territory Sales Manager for PathGroup Labs, based in Brentwood, Tenn. His duties included developing services throughout eastern Tennessee and north Georgia, and managing laboratory service operations for more than 145 physician practices.

Weatherly received his bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla., and his master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Francis in Chicago, Ill.

In his new position, Weatherly will oversee daily operations at Bladen County Hospital. He replaces Cameron Highsmith, who resigned as Bladen County Hospital president in October.

Webster Named Behavioral Health Services Director

FAYETTEVILLE – Doug Webster has been appointed Service Line Director for Behavioral Health Services at Cape Fear Valley Health.

The native of Miami, Fla., has more than 25 years of behavioral health leadership experience and was previously CEO of Hermitage Hall, a 100-bed residential treatment facility for adolescents in Nashville, Tenn. Prior to that, Webster was an administrator with Horizon Mental Health Management, a national contract management firm, based in Lewisville, Texas. 

He was also Behavioral Health Director at Community Hospital in New Port Ritchey, Fla., Hospital Administrator at Coliseum Psychiatric Center in Macon, Ga., and Director of Geriatric Psychiatry at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Fla.

Webster received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work from Florida International University in Miami. 

In his new duties, Webster will oversee all aspects of Behavioral Health Care at Cape Fear Valley Health, including an inpatient psychiatric hospital, outpatient services for children, adolescents, adults and families, and the health system’s Sleep Center. 

Cape Fear Valley Receives Two Lactation Awards

FAYETTEVILLE – Cape Fear Valley Medical Center has received two awards for its lactation program efforts. 

The first is the Golden Bow Award for the medical center’s decision to stop distributing infant formula and related materials to new mothers. The North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition presented the award to Cape Fear Valley during a ceremony at the medical center on March 23.

UNICEF launched the Golden Bow campaign in 2002 as a symbol for the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding efforts worldwide.   

The second award was for excellence in lactation care. It was given by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) and the International Lactation Consultant Association (ICLA).

The medical center received the IBCLC Care Award for staffing International Board Certified Lactation Consultants and for providing a lactation program available 5-7 days a week for breastfeeding families. 

In addition, the medical center demonstrated it has provided breastfeeding training for medical staff who care for new families, and have recently completed activities that help protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

Cape Fear Valley’s International Board Certified Lactation Consultants are: Kenyatta Elliott, IBCLC-RLC; Mary Wroblewski, RN, IBCLC; and Catherine Diehl, RN, IBCLC, BSN. Each teach in classes offering breastfeeding education and consultation with new mothers seven days a week.

McGarry Named ICU Patient Care Manager

FAYETTEVILLE – Felicia McGarry, RN, BSN, has been appointed Patient Care Manager for the Medical, Cardiac and Surgical Intensive Care units at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

The Fayetteville native joined Cape Fear Valley Health in 2001 as an LPN. She was previously Patient Care Manager for 3 Valley Pavilion at the medical center. She was a Clinical Educator with the health system prior to that.

She received her associate’s degree in Nursing from Fayetteville Technical Community College and her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from East Carolina University in Greenville. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Nursing Leadership, also from East Carolina University.

Cape Fear Valley To Officially Purchase Bladen County Hospital

ELIZABETHTOWN – Cape Fear Valley CEO Mike Nagowski will meet with Bladen County Commissioners tonight to finalize the official purchase of Bladen County Hospital by Cape Fear Valley Health System.  

A ceremonial letter-signing and plaque presentation will be held during the board’s regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Bladen County Courthouse. The signing fulfills a four-year promise by the health system to purchase the hospital and make annual improvements. To date, Cape Fear Valley Health has invested nearly $19 million in upgrades. 

In 2008, Cape Fear Valley Health and Bladen County Hospital entered into a multi-year affiliation that allowed the health system the option of purchasing the hospital within five years. In the years since, the affiliation has brought an influx of improvements to Bladen County, improving healthcare for all.

The numerous improvements include:

• A new roof for Bladen County Hospital
• Aggressive physician recruitment to bring additional physicians to the county, including pediatricians, general surgeons, OB/GYN phsycians, hospitalists, ED physicians and family practice physicians
• Bladen Kids’ Care opening in Elizabethtown, bringing the first pediatrician to the county in decades
• Bladen Sleep Center opening to offer in-house sleep studies at Bladen County Hospital
• Fayetteville Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine opening an Elizabethtown office for greater patient convenience and access
• Fayetteville cardiologists now performing initial visits and follow-ups through the Bladen Consultation Center
• Bladenboro Family Practice merging with Bladen Healthcare to offer improved family care services to local residents
• Bladen County Hospital Birth Center renovations to offer an improved birthing experience for patients
• Hospitalists working in-house at Bladen County Hospital to care exclusively for hospitalized patients
• New Mid-Level Provider (Physician Assistant) added to Emergency Department staff to reduce patient wait times
• Digital Mammography equipment purchased
• - New C-arm X-ray machine purchased for greater diagnostic imaging capability in the Operating Room
• - Bladen Digital Mammography Services receiving accreditation from the American College of Radiology
• - Bladen County Hospital Lab receiving accreditation by The Joint Commission on Healthcare Organizations
• - Bladen County Hospital being named a “Red Apple” hospital by the North Carolina Prevention Partners for its commitment to provide healthy food for employees, patients and visitors
• - And Bladen Nurse, Terri Duncan, RN, BSN, being named a Great 100 Nurse for 2011.

Cape Fear Valley Health is the state’s 9^th largest health system and serves a five county region within southeastern North Carolina, including Bladen County. Bladen County Hospital is one of just two Critical Access Hospitals in the region, federally designated to provide care for primarily rural patients. 

Bladen Medical Associates Office New Location

BLADENBORO – Bladen Medical Associate’s Bladenboro Clinic has moved to a new, state-of-the-art location.  

The new primary care facility is located inside existing space at 1106 West Seaboard St., across from Bo’s Supermarket. Bladen Medical Associates-Bladenboro is leasing the 5,600-square-foot building and renovate it to offer new diagnostic services to area residents. The renovation began in late December and is expected to end in April. 

The project is a collaborative effort among the Town of Bladenboro, Bladen’s Bloomin Agri-Industrial, Inc., the N.C. Rural Center Foundation, the Golden Leaf Foundation and Bladen Healthcare, LLC. 

The leased space is completely renovated to accommodate the practice’s new services, including Obstetrics and Gynecology. A provider from Bladen Healthcare’s Women’s Health Specialists will have scheduled days at the facility.

X-rays, ultrasounds and blood draws will also be available at the practice for the first time. Local patients previously had to drive 20 minutes or more to obtain these services. 

“The staff and I are so excited about the new office,” said Pearline Grant, M.D. “It’s going to allow us to offer more services, which means we can provide a higher level of care to our patients. I just know that our patients are going to love the new building and services.”

The Bladenboro office also adds a new provider: Shelly Brown, FNP-C, a Bladenboro native. 

“I look forward to providing quality care,” Brown said, “not only to clients but to neighbors as well. This new building is to going to be great and the practice will continue to be an invaluable asset to our community.”

Paramedic Wins State Public Service Award

FAYETTEVILLE – A Cumberland County EMS Emergency Paramedic (EMT-P) has been honored for his public service.

Lee Westbrook, EMT-P, won a 2011-2012 Public Servant Gold Medal from the Veterans of Foreign Wars – Department of North Carolina chapter. The Clinton native’s award came in the Emergency Medical Technician category.

The annual award is presented to a chapter member who actively gives emergency medical treatment, provides rescue service, or civil disaster assistance, as a member of any public or volunteer EMS department. Hope Mills VFW Post 10630 sponsored Westbrook in this year’s competition.

He is the ninth member of Cumberland County EMS to win a VFW Public Servant Gold Medal from the state chapter. Kevin Brunson, EMT-P, was the last state winner in 2009. Deborah Collado, EMT-P, was a post winner in 2010.

Westbrook is no stranger to awards. He previously helped Cumberland County EMS’s competition team win first place in the 2010 Journal of Emergency Medical Services national paramedic competition. The local team won by beating several national EMS powerhouses, such as the Official Fire Department City of New York (FDNY) and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. 

The 7-year U.S. Air Force veteran has worked in the EMS field since 1998. He currently teaches specialty certification classes for the American Heart Association, and works with the North Carolina Urban Search and Rescue Team. Westbrook has also participated in tactical medical programs with law enforcement agencies. 

Cape Fear Valley EMS World Champs Again

FAYETTEVILLE – For the second time in three years, a Cape Fear Valley Health EMS team has won the most prestigious EMS competition in the nation.

The 9^th Annual Journal of Emergency Services (JEMS) Games was held last week in Baltimore, M.D., pitting the best EMS teams against one another in graded competition. The games are open to any team in the world. This year’s participants included powerhouse squads from Miami-Dade, Las Vegas and FDNY.

Cumberland County EMS paramedics Lee Westbrook, Larry Smith, Brian Pearce and Joseph Crowder, all EMT-Ps, represented Cape Fear Valley Health in winning the two-day competition. Westbrook is a Lead Paramedic. Smith is a Fleet Maintenance Supervisor. Pearce is Director of Cumberland County EMS. And Crowder, the team’s newest member, is a Training Officer and Assistant Chief over EMS system development.

Pearce, Smith and Westbrook have known, worked and competed in EMS competitions together for more than a decade. They reside in the Eastover community a few miles apart and have volunteered with the Eastover Fire Department, where they respond to fire and medical emergencies.

All the competing teams were tested for clinical skills during day one, including a hazardous materials accident simulation and a heart attack response. The three teams with the best overall scores advanced to the final round and were graded on mock disaster drill performance before an audience of their peers.

Cape Fear Valley’s final scenario was a tornado involving seven patients and just 20 minutes to treat each victim. The simulation was eerily reminiscent for Westbrook and Pearce, who both responded to tornadoes that ravaged western Cumberland County last April.

Cumberland County EMS will receive approximately $20,000 in EMS prizes for the victory, including a $10,000 video airway device, a training mannequin and carbon monoxide detector. 

Cape Fear Valley’s EMS team first won the JEMS competition in 2010, beating 16 other teams. That year’s squad included Dave Cuddeback, a Duplin County EMS training officer, who served as a technical advisor to Westbrook, Smith and Pearce. 

Culbreth Named 7 South Manager

FAYETTEVILLE – Melissa Culbreth, BSN, has been named Patient Care Manager for 7 South at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

The Fayetteville native joined Cape Fear Valley Health in 2004 as a Staff Nurse on 7 South. She previously held the position of Nursing Supervisor. Prior to that, she was a Staff Nurse in the Emergency Department. 

Culbreth received her associate’s degree in Nursing from Sampson Community College in Clinton. She received her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing, based in Illinois.

In her new duties, Culbreth will be responsible for all patient care services within 7 South, including care for joint replacement patients. 

Burg Named Supply Chain Director

FAYETTEVILLE – Jeff Burg has been appointed Corporate Director of Supply Chain Services at Cape Fear Valley Health.

The Miami native has more than 30 years of managerial experience and previously served as Director of Materials Management / Environmental Services at BryanLGH Health System in Lincoln, Neb. Prior to that, he was Director of Environmental Services with the health system.

Burg earned his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. He received his master's degree in Health Services Administration also from Central Michigan University. 

In his new position, Burg will oversee central purchasing and supplies management for the health system.

Faircloth Named 3 Valley Pavilion Manager

FAYETTEVILLE – Robin Faircloth, RN, has been appointed Patient Care Manager for 3 Valley Pavilion at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

The Massachusetts native joined Cape Fear Valley Health in 1993 as a Staff Nurse. She was previously Patient Care Manager of 3 Valley Pavilion – South. Faircloth was a Resource Nurse at 3 Valley Pavilion prior to that.

She received her associate’s degree in Nursing from Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield, Mass., and is currently pursing her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from The College Network. 

Cape Fear Valley Named Top Performing Hospital

FAYETTEVILLE – Cape Fear Valley Health has been named a Top Performing hospital for 2011 under QUEST, a performance program developed by the federal government.

Based on third-year results, the health system received awards for top performance in the areas of saving lives, safely reducing patient care costs, and delivering the most reliable and effective care.

As a result, Cape Fear Valley will receive a $20,000 monetary award for meeting its goals under the program. 

QUEST was created in 2008 by the Institute for Health Improvement and the Premier healthcare alliance. Its goal is to incentivize hospitals to increase healthcare quality, while also reducing costs, to prepare for changes in the healthcare industry.

Cape Fear Valley has been named a Top Performing hospital for all three years of the project.

More than 150 hospitals nationwide joined QUEST in 2008 to set initial performance goals and then try to meet them annually under the project. Participating hospitals can collaborate and share knowledge with each other to develop best practices, which benefits all hospitals.

The federal government will soon begin penalizing poor-performing hospitals by reducing their Medicare reimbursement payments. Higher performing hospitals will receive bonuses. QUEST hospitals consistently outperform other hospitals at a lower cost, benefitting everyone.

Cape Fear Valley Earns National Quality Award

FAYETTEVILLE – Cape Fear Valley Health is being rewarded for consistently delivering high quality care.

The health system was named an Attainment Award winner under the Health Quality Incentive Demonstration (HQID) Project for 2011. As a result, Cape Fear Valley Health will receive $50,000 in additional insurance reimbursement payments from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The federal agency partnered with the Premier healthcare alliance to create the pay-for-performance study six years ago. The project’s goal is to improve patient care quality and to determine if financial incentives are effective at improving patient care quality among hospitals. Just 272 hospitals participate in the study nationwide.

Cape Fear Valley Health won for its work in the areas of heart attack, heart failure, heart bypass surgery, pneumonia, hip and knee replacement surgery and surgical care improvement. To date, the health system has received 23 HQID awards and received more than $450,000.

CMS issued out approximately $12 million in additional incentive payments to just 211 hospitals in 2011. Overall, CMS has awarded more than $60 million throughout all six years of the HQID project.
HQID is the first CMS incentive program of its kind. It measures such things as prescribing a daily aspirin to prevent heart attacks and teaching heart failure patients to weigh themselves daily. These are considered best practices, which lead to best patient outcomes.

The Premier healthcare alliance is a performance improvement alliance of more than 2,500 hospitals nationwide and 78,000 other healthcare facilities, which collaborate to improve quality and cost-effectiveness. To learn more, visit www.premierinc.com.