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Cape Fear Valley is a 765-bed regional health system serving a six-county region of Southeastern North Carolina, with more than 935,000 patients annually. A private not-for-profit organization and the state’s 9th largest health system, it includes Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital, Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center and Bladen County Hospital.
Showing posts with label award. Show all posts
Showing posts with label award. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 9, 2012


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.

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.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012


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.

Friday, January 20, 2012

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.

Bladen Nurse Among Great 100

ELIZABETHTOWN – Terri Duncan, RN, BSN, has been selected as a Great 100 Nurse for 2011. The award is an annual honor given to nurses who exhibit nursing excellence and make a difference in their community.
Duncan, a Clarkton native, has more than 20 years of nursing experience and currently serves as a Clinical Educator at Bladen Healthcare. Her duties include educating health system nurses about best practices and evidence-based medicine. She also serves as a patient advocate by looking for ways to improve healthcare for all patients.

Her other duties include everything from educating employees about smoking cessation, serving as a hospital liaison to area nursing programs, and helping instruct new nurses during clinical rotations.

When she’s not working, Duncan talks to civic and faith-based groups about healthcare. For the past 10 years, she has touched on issues such as senior health, exercise, meal preparation and healthcare decisions.

Duncan previously served as a district representative and local district president with the North Carolina Nurses Association. She has been a member for more than 20 years.

Just 100 nurses are chosen each year to receive the Great 100 award. It was created by the Great 100 organization, a grassroots-nursing group created in 1988 to recognize outstanding registered nurses in North Carolina.

Cape Fear Valley Hospitals Receive ENERGY STAR Rating

FAYETTEVILLE – Two Cape Fear Valley Health hospitals have been awarded ENERGY STAR certification. The prestigious rating is the national symbol for superior energy efficiency, cost reduction and environmental protection.

The U.S. Departments of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency awards the certification to products and facilities that meet stringent energy efficiency guidelines intended to reduce energy costs and consumption. To qualify, a rating of 75 out of 100 points must be met, based on electrical, natural gas, water and fuel oil efficiency. This data is validated by an independent engineer prior to submission for ENERGY STAR approval.

Just three North Carolina hospitals have received ENERGY STAR certification. The two belonging to Cape Fear Valley Health are Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and Bladen County Hospital. Cape Fear Valley Medical Center scored 85 and Bladen County Hospital scored 79. The scores place both facilities in the top 15 percent of energy-efficient hospitals nationwide.

Cape Fear Valley Health has been able to improve its energy performance while maintaining high standards of quality for patients and visitors, while also improving the health system’s bottom line.

Fred McMillan, Director of Engineering, says energy conservation measures save Cape Fear Valley Health up to $1.2 million a year.

“I couldn’t be more proud,” says McMillan, “of my engineering team whose hard work made this possible. We’ve been working on this initiative since 2008.”

Friday, July 1, 2011

Two Bladen County RNs Named Exemplary Nurses

ELIZABETHTOWN – Two of Bladen County Hospital’s own were recently named Cape Fear Valley Health Exemplary Nurses for 2011.

Sabrina Melvin, RN, BSN, and Teresa Phipps, RN, BSN, were both honored during an awards ceremony, along with eight other Cape Fear Valley RNs. The ceremony was held May 9 at Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center in Fayetteville.

The Exemplary Nursing awards program was created in 2001 as a way to honor outstanding RNs throughout Cape Fear Valley Health. The health system’s staff nominate co-workers whose compassion, hard work and skill make them Exemplary Nurses.

Melvin is a Charge Nurse and serves on Performance Improvement and leadership committees with Bladen County Hospital. She was nominated for her work as a top assistant to the nursing manager, handling often-stressful situations with poise, maintaining working relationships with physicians and outside departments. She also assisted with the hospital’s new hospitalist program launch, guiding physicians and serving as a resource person for policies and procedures.

She executes interdepartmental functions with grace, competence, excellence and a smile, while also lending emotional and financial support to co-workers if needed.

Phipps works in Bladen County Hospital’s Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program, and previously worked in the hospital’s ICU, Medical/Surgical Unit and Emergency Department.

In 1997, she helped establish the hospital’s Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program, serving as Clinical and Program Director. There, she helped shape the program by developing documentation, policies, care plans and admission procedures.

Phipps was nominated for treating patients as a “whole person” and often befriending them on a personal level. She has also shown unwavering loyalty to her job by juggling her career while also taking care of her permanently disabled husband, Bo, a spinal injury patient, over the years.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Cape Fear Valley Medical Center PACU Wins Nursing Award

FAYETTEVILLE – The N.C. Nurses Association has bestowed its Hallmarks of Healthy Workplaces award upon the Post Anesthesia Care Unit nursing staff at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. The Post Anesthesia Care Unit is where post-surgical patients recover from anesthesia before going to one of the surgical units in the medical center.

The three-year award was created to recognize hospitals that promote positive work environments, open communication, respect and solution-oriented actions that not only help nurses work better, but to also recruit more nurses and to retain them.

The reviewers called Cape Fear Valley’s PACU “a very supportive organization for nursing.” Among the unit’s many strengths noted by the reviewers were its strong leadership support from the CEO down to the nurse manager, excellent teamwork among staff, low employee turnover and flexible staffing.

The N.C. Nurses Association holds a recognition ceremony twice a year for winning hospitals. Cape Fear Valley Medical Center will be recognized during the N.C. Nurses Association recognition ceremony on Feb. 4 in Greensboro.

Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital ICU was recognized this past January as a two-time winner of a Hallmarks of Healthy Workplaces award. Highmsith-Rainey first won the award in 2007.

Cape Fear Valley Paramedics Keep Winning Streak Alive

FAYETTEVILLE – Two Cape Fear Valley EMS Paramedics have won first place in yet another EMS training competition.

Larry Smith, EMT-P, CCEMT-P, and Lee Westbrook, EMT-P, teamed up to win the 14th Annual Carolina Competition, which pits EMS workers from across North Carolina and South Carolina. This is the second consecutive year the two have won the Carolina Competition, and their third victory in a row. The pair won a National EMS competition earlier this year.

Smith is an Education Coordinator with Cape Fear Valley’s Training & Development Department, as well as a part-time paramedic. Westbrook is a Captain with Cumberland County EMS.

This year’s Carolina Competition was held in Florence County, S.C. The teams were graded on two days of emergency response scenarios and a written exam. Cumberland County will host the competition in 2011, so Smith and Westbrook will not be eligible to compete.

In March, Smith and Westbrook received national recognition after partnering with Brian Pearce, Cape Fear Valley EMS/LifeLink Director, to win the 7th Annual Journal of Emergency Services Games in Baltimore, M.D. It was open to any EMS team in the world and included powerhouses Miami-Dade, FDNY, Las Vegas and LA County EMS.

Cape Fear Valley Diabetes Educator Wins National Honor

FAYETTEVILLE – John Pasztor, MS, MPH, RD, LDN, CDE, a Diabetes Educator with the Cape Fear Valley Diabetes & Endocrine Center, has been named Educator of the Year for Diabetic Care and Education by the American Dietetic Association.

Pasztor, of Latrobe, Pa., received his award Nov. 8 in Boston, Mass., during the association’s annual convention. The American Dietitic Association is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals.

He holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in Systems Analysis from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He received a bachelor’s degree in pre-law from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa.

Pasztor joined Cape Fear Valley Health System in 1994 as a Clinical Dietitian. He has served as a Diabetes Educator since 2000 and as Program Coordinator of the Diabetes Self-management Training Program since 2002 at the Diabetes & Endocrine Center.

Cape Fear Valley Receives National Accreditation For Hip And Knee Surgery

FAYETTEVILLE – Cape Fear Valley's joint replacement program has been honored once again.

The Joint Commission awarded the health system two Gold Seals of ApprovalTM for healthcare quality in the areas of Total Knee replacement surgery and Total Hip replacement surgery. The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit national organization that certifies and accredits more than 1,800 hospitals and medical facilities in the U.S.

Cape Fear Valley’s Gold Seals of ApprovalTM were announced Oct. 29 after an extensive, on-site review by the Joint Commission in September. The review covered Cape Fear Valley's surgical capability, performance improvement measures, and staff clinical competency to ensure both programs meet national guidelines and clinical practice recommendations.

"This certification means Cape Fear Valley does the right things and does them well for Total Hip and Total Knee surgery patients," said Cape Fear Valley CEO Mike Nagowski.

Fewer than 100 hospitals in the U.S. have been awarded the Total Knee and Total Hip Gold Seals of Approval by The Joint Commission. In 2009, there were 872 Total Knee and Hip replacements performed at Cape Fear Valley.

Hip and knee replacement patients at Cape Fear Valley participate in the health system's innovative Race to Recovery rehabilitation program. It allows patients to recover quicker by participating in group physical therapy.

Douglas McFarlane, M.D., an orthopedic specialist with Cape Fear Orthopaedic Clinic, has served as the physician champion for the Race to Recovery program. He said receiving The Joint Commission accreditation is a rare accomplishment for any hospital.

"This allows us to say we're a center of excellence," Dr. McFarlane said. "WakeMed in Raleigh, nor UNC Hospitals or FirstHealth in Pinehurst has the certifications at this point."

In 2009, Cape Fear Valley was designated a Blue Distinction CenterSM for Hip and Knee surgery by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.

Blue Distinction® is a designation awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that demonstrate expertise in delivering quality healthcare. The designation is based on rigorous, evidence-based criteria established by expert physicians and medical organization recommendations.

Cape Fear Valley Rewarded For High Quality Patient Care

FAYETTEVILLE – Cape Fear Valley Health System is being rewarded for consistently meeting nationally recognized standards of patient care under an on-going quality study by the federal governement.

The Health Quality Incentive Demonstration (HQID) is a pay-for-performance project sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Premier healthcare alliance. The project was created to improve patient care quality and to determine if financial incentives are effective at improving patient care quality among hospitals. Just 250 hospitals nationwide are participating in the study.

Cape Fear Valley was named a Top Performer in the Hip and Knee surgery category and received Performance Attainment Awards for scores in Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Pneumonia and Surgical Care. The health system also received a Top Improvement award for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG).

For meeting its goals, Cape Fear Valley will receive additional reimbursement from CMS. The federal agency administers several health-related programs and reimburses hospitals for treating those patients.

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, which are considered “best practices” to achieve best patient outcomes. Hospitals are rated on whether they performed the measures for every patient at every encounter within five clinical areas.

Now in its fifth year, HQID data shows the project has saved 70,000 lives and $4.5 billion in its first three years due to fewer patient complications, re-admissions and shorter hospital stays. To learn more about the HQID project and Cape Fear Valley’s awards, please visit www.cms.hhs.gov or www.premierinc.com.

Cape Fear Valley Tops List Of Adoption-Friendly Workplaces Within Healthcare Industry

FAYETTEVILLE – Cape Fear Valley Health System has been named as the Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace in the healthcare industry for 2010 by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

The list has been released annually since 2007 in order to recognize employers with the best adoption benefits in the nation. Rankings are based on financial assistance and paid leave for employees who are adopting a child. The list includes winners by size, category and an overall top 100.

In addition to ranking number one in the healthcare industry this year, Cape Fear Valley also ranks #70 in the overall top 100.

Cape Fear Valley achieved its rankings by providing its 5,000 employees with up to $3,000 per adoption for adoption-related expenses and 12 weeks paid leave. The amount is raised to $5,000 if the child has special needs.

To be eligible, employees must be full-time and have been employed with Cape Fear Valley at least a year. The adopted child must be under the age of 18 and not be related to the employee. Other restrictions apply.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption was established in 1992 as a public charity, with the goal of finding loving homes for every child. The foundation’s creator, Dave Thomas, is the founder of the Wendy’s national fast food restaurant chain and the son of adoptive parents.

To learn more about the foundation and its annual list, please visit www.DaveThomasFoundation.org.