PVH ranked best in the state
Becker’s Hospital Review reports Potomac Valley Hospital named “most socially responsible hospital” in West Virginia
The Lown Institute, a non-partisan health care advocacy organization, recently named Potomac Valley Hospital (PVH) the most socially responsible hospital in West Virginia in its Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility, according to a recent issue of Becker’s Hospital Review.
PVH was awarded an “A” grade in the Lown study, receiving the highest score among the 37 West Virginia hospitals considered. In addition to its state placement, PVH also ranked 17th among 850 critical access hospitals across the United States. The annual Lown rankings include 3,637 hospitals throughout the country.
“We are thrilled to receive this recognition,” stated Mark Boucot, president and CEO at Potomac Valley Hospital and Garrett Regional Medical Center. “Our staff works diligently to provide the highest quality care possible to the people in our region. Being recognized as the West Virginia hospital with the highest ranking in terms of compassionate care, financial responsibility, community commitment, and patient outcomes means a great deal. Our staff truly works to treat every patient like family – this recognition is well earned.”
PVH, which is part of the West Virginia University Health System, is a critical access hospital that provides a number of specialty medical services not typically found in rural communities. Specialty services include cancer care, infusion services, behavioral health, integrative pain management, cardiology, urology, vascular care, pulmonology, orthopedics, and wound care services. PVH is also the only Stroke Certified Critical Access Hospital in the West Virginia University Health System. That designation is more commonly achieved at larger hospitals.
The quality of patient care at the hospital is a direct reflection of the dedication of the PVH staff; patients that utilize the hospital do not generally experience any hospital acquired infections, and the hospital’s quality indicators are superlative. In 2022-2023, the hospital has had no catheter urinary tract infections, no central line associated blood stream infections, no bed sores, and no venous thrombo-embolisms.
In addition to the quality of care provided at PVH, the hospital’s ranking by the Lowns Institute was likely influenced by its commitment to the people of our community. Following the recent closure of a paper mill that employed close to 700 people, PVH moved to help the area’s numerous displaced workers by securing a $2.5 million grant through the federal Economic Development Administration that will help educate people for health care jobs. The grant is being used to construct an education and training center that will house a training center that will provide certification programs including phlebotomy technician, pharmacy technician, behavioral health technician, nursing assistant, and central sterile processing certification. The center is scheduled to be completed in 2024.
“Our commitment to the community includes addressing the social determinants of health that can lead to poor health outcomes,” noted Boucot. “I see our role as serving the community and helping wherever possible. Healthcare isn’t just about caring for people with diseases, it’s also about keeping the community healthy whenever possible. The stress that results from unemployment is a serious issue in our area. At PVH we recognized what the loss of 700 jobs at the Verso Plant would do to the community, and we decided to help by applying for this grant and creating the education center. The training center will give people in this community an opportunity to receive education and training in professions that will allow them to find gainful employment where they live. The hospital also formed a partnership with the Loving Hands Outreach Center to help address transportation issues to help get patients to their appointments. We understand that caring for our community goes beyond the hospital walls and the outpatient offices. We want to help people in the community, and the Training Center will help us accomplish that by stimulating the local economy.”
The Lown Institute, located near Boston in Needham, Massachusetts, annually ranks over 3,600 US hospitals on more than 50 metrics in its Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility. The metrics focus on issues such as pay equity, community benefit, cost efficiency, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and patient safety.
For more information on the rankings, visit www.lownhospitalindex.org