In healthcare, quality is expected. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention set standards and regulations that all hospitals and healthcare providers must meet.
The year 2015 brought many national and regional honors to Virtua. Virtua, as the health system’s efforts have not escaped notice.
All three of Virtua’s hospitals recently earned straight A’s in patient safety for the third time after independent review, while the intensive care units in Marlton and Voorhees were singled out for exceptional patient care. In fact, the level of patient care across Virtua recently was recognized by the healthcare and insurance industries, alike.
Virtua, a nonprofit, was even named one of the top seven hospital systems in America for blending outstanding financial performance with outstanding patient satisfaction.
The data also reflects a commitment to the relationships between caregivers and patients.
“It’s the humanization, the emotional aspect, that makes the difference,” said Dr. Alka Kohli, Chief Medical Officer at Virtua. “The positive impact is what a patient will remember, and that’s what separates Virtua from other hospitals and healthcare providers.”
Jennifer Carmody, Nursing Director of the Intensive Care Unit at Virtua Voorhees, agreed.
“At the hospitals we have daily team huddles, or meetings, and our staff uses that time to share inspirational patient stories with one another. It’s one way for us to not only show our commitment to providing the best care but to also continue improving,” said Carmody.
From hospitals and physician practices to surgery centers and fitness centers, commitment to the highest levels of care runs throughout Virtua.
Among the recent accolades:
· Virtua Voorhees received the Consumer Choice Award from the National Research Corporation in its annual survey of consumers.
· VirtuaCare was listed as one of the Top 100 Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in the United States by the leading magazine, Becker’s Hospital Review. The publication ranked ACOs according to 33 metrics ranging from blood pressure and diabetes management to mammography screenings. Over the past year VirtuaCare’s performance ranking increased from 74 to 88 percent, the fourth highest composite score among the 22 ACOs in New Jersey.
· Virtua for the third time was awarded a nationally recognized symbol of achievement, the Guardian of Excellence Award for Patient Experience by Press Ganey. This award recognizes top-performing health systems that exceed 95 percent in measures of patient experience.
· Virtua has been granted a three-year/full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons. Accreditation by the NAPBC is only given to those centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance.
“These awards not only look at patient satisfaction but also the commitment of our team,” said Tracy Carlino, Chief Nursing Officer of Patient Care Services at Virtua. “Virtua believes that exceptional quality needs to be at the forefront of all that we do.”
Carlino’s remarks are supported by yet more recent accolades:
· Virtua Voorhees and Virtua Marlton hospitals were named to the Leapfrog Group’s annual list of Top Hospitals in the U.S. Virtua Marlton and Virtua Voorhees were two of 98 Top Hospitals recognized and selected from hospitals participating in The Leapfrog Group’s national annual survey. They were the only two in the entire Philadelphia region receiving this prestigious award.
· All of Virtua’s hospitals, labs, and home-and long-term care programs met the highest national standards for safe, quality patient care during an independent review by The Joint Commission.
· The intensive care unit (ICU) at Virtua Voorhees received a Beacon Award for Excellence (Gold) by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. The three-year designation — awarded to only two ICUs in New Jersey — recognizes quality through metrics that demonstrate exceptional care and collaboration. The ICU at Virtua Marlton also received a Beacon Award for Excellence (Silver).
· Virtua was granted the High Performing Hospital Award for quality and efficient care by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state’s largest health insurer, in recognition of the health system’s consistent run of A grades in Leapfrog Hospital Safety Scores from the fall of 2014 through the fall of 2015.
“Both our clinical and administrative staff are committed to providing world-class quality healthcare,” said Richard P. Miller, President and CEO of Virtua. “We work continuously to help patients be well, get well and stay well.”
