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Wheeling Hospital Ranked Among Top 10 for Quality of Care
Compiled by Staff
POSTED: December 20, 2007
WHEELING — After recently marking a financial turnaround at Wheeling Hospital, officials there learned this week that the facility has been named one of the top 10 hospitals in the nation for quality health care.
A study, conducted by two Harvard School of Public Health researchers, was published by the Commonwealth Fund, a New York-based private foundation. The study rated the country’s top 10 hospitals based on quality care in four areas: acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical infection prevention. There are approximately 7,500 hospitals in the United States.
Hospital spokesman Gregg Warren noted those in the top 10 are not ranked in a particular order.
However, the quality of care areas are rated by percentage, with 100 percent being the best. For example, the hospital received a rating of 100 percent for its care in giving heart attack patients ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors or ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers).
The news of Wheeling Hospital’s accomplishment comes on the heels of the facility’s recent return to profitability. Pittsburgh-based R&V Associates was brought to the hospital 23 months ago to lead a total restructuring of the then-financially struggling medical complex.
R&V is led by Ronald L. Violi and Vincent C. Deluzio. Violi serves as Wheeling Hospital’s chief executive officer, while Deluzio is active in the hospital’s legal and regulatory matters.
“This is an incredible honor for Wheeling Hospital and credit goes to every single one of our employees. Their hard work and achievements exemplify the hospital’s overall commitment in providing high-quality health care with compassion to the residents of the Upper Ohio Valley,” said Violi.
Comparing data collected from the federal Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the researchers measured hospitals across the U.S. based on the percentage of patients who received proper care for the four specific illnesses.
“The rating demonstrates our ongoing commitment to quality care. These results can’t be achieved without making this a priority from the top down. Everyone has had a role in this, from registration to discharge,” noted Wheeling Hospital Medical Director Dr. Dennis Niess. “Credit really goes to the entire organization because so many people have been involved in meeting these measures. Those involved include ER; medical staff, especially Dr. Robert Fanning, who has really raised the bar in cardiology; Care Management Department; Performance Improvement Department; Quality Management staff; Intermediate Care Unit and nursing.”
According to the study, public reporting of standard health care quality measures helps hospitals to understand how well they are performing compared with their peers; gives them targets for improvement; and provides external motivation to improve. In addition, the reports enable consumers to compare hospitals and select the best institutions for their particular conditions.
Though still ranked above the state and national averages, examples of areas where Wheeling Hospital achieved less than a 100 percent rating include: 99 percent rating for heart attack patients given aspirin on arrival; 92 percent rating for heart attack patients given a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure, such as angioplasty; and a 93 percent rating for pneumonia patients assessed and given pneumococcal vaccination.
No other hospital in the tri-state area, Morgantown, Pittsburgh, Cleveland or Columbus was named to the top 10 list, according to Warren. No information identifying other hospitals ranked among the top 10 was available at press time.
Wheeling Hospital Director of Quality Management Peggy Contraguerro said of the study’s findings, “I am proud of our entire staff’s efforts that went into accomplishing this goal.”
“I think this distinction is great, but it doesn’t’ surprise me,” said Tish Holden, case coordinator-Cardiac Care. “We have worked really hard to make sure what we needed to do for these types of patients was accomplished. It goes to show that the staff’s hard work has helped our patients get care they need.”
Deborah Bell, Performance Improvement director, said, “This is a good example of everyone working together to ensure quality care for the members of our community.”
A study, conducted by two Harvard School of Public Health researchers, was published by the Commonwealth Fund, a New York-based private foundation. The study rated the country’s top 10 hospitals based on quality care in four areas: acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical infection prevention. There are approximately 7,500 hospitals in the United States.
Hospital spokesman Gregg Warren noted those in the top 10 are not ranked in a particular order.
However, the quality of care areas are rated by percentage, with 100 percent being the best. For example, the hospital received a rating of 100 percent for its care in giving heart attack patients ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors or ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers).
The news of Wheeling Hospital’s accomplishment comes on the heels of the facility’s recent return to profitability. Pittsburgh-based R&V Associates was brought to the hospital 23 months ago to lead a total restructuring of the then-financially struggling medical complex.
R&V is led by Ronald L. Violi and Vincent C. Deluzio. Violi serves as Wheeling Hospital’s chief executive officer, while Deluzio is active in the hospital’s legal and regulatory matters.
“This is an incredible honor for Wheeling Hospital and credit goes to every single one of our employees. Their hard work and achievements exemplify the hospital’s overall commitment in providing high-quality health care with compassion to the residents of the Upper Ohio Valley,” said Violi.
Comparing data collected from the federal Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the researchers measured hospitals across the U.S. based on the percentage of patients who received proper care for the four specific illnesses.
“The rating demonstrates our ongoing commitment to quality care. These results can’t be achieved without making this a priority from the top down. Everyone has had a role in this, from registration to discharge,” noted Wheeling Hospital Medical Director Dr. Dennis Niess. “Credit really goes to the entire organization because so many people have been involved in meeting these measures. Those involved include ER; medical staff, especially Dr. Robert Fanning, who has really raised the bar in cardiology; Care Management Department; Performance Improvement Department; Quality Management staff; Intermediate Care Unit and nursing.”
According to the study, public reporting of standard health care quality measures helps hospitals to understand how well they are performing compared with their peers; gives them targets for improvement; and provides external motivation to improve. In addition, the reports enable consumers to compare hospitals and select the best institutions for their particular conditions.
Though still ranked above the state and national averages, examples of areas where Wheeling Hospital achieved less than a 100 percent rating include: 99 percent rating for heart attack patients given aspirin on arrival; 92 percent rating for heart attack patients given a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure, such as angioplasty; and a 93 percent rating for pneumonia patients assessed and given pneumococcal vaccination.
No other hospital in the tri-state area, Morgantown, Pittsburgh, Cleveland or Columbus was named to the top 10 list, according to Warren. No information identifying other hospitals ranked among the top 10 was available at press time.
Wheeling Hospital Director of Quality Management Peggy Contraguerro said of the study’s findings, “I am proud of our entire staff’s efforts that went into accomplishing this goal.”
“I think this distinction is great, but it doesn’t’ surprise me,” said Tish Holden, case coordinator-Cardiac Care. “We have worked really hard to make sure what we needed to do for these types of patients was accomplished. It goes to show that the staff’s hard work has helped our patients get care they need.”
Deborah Bell, Performance Improvement director, said, “This is a good example of everyone working together to ensure quality care for the members of our community.”
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