Carilion Clinic Ranked 18th Most Integrated Healthcare Network in the U.S.

Modern Healthcare releases the 2009 SDI IHN 100 list

Roanoke, VA - February 26, 2009 - Carilion Clinic is ranked 18th in the 2009 list of the country’s most integrated health networks, one of its highest rankings to date. In addition, Carilion ranked 5th on the list of the top ten health organizations in the south. The list is developed by health care analytics firm SDI and published by Modern Healthcare magazine. SDI’s report is regarded as the nation’s premiere ranking system and evaluates health systems on their degree of integration and overall performance.

With 570 non-specialty, local and regional healthcare networks in the United States, being ranked among the top 20 is a significant accomplishment for Carilion employees, indicating success in several key areas. SDI evaluates the health care networks’ ability to function as a unified organization in eight categories: integration, integrated technology, contractual capabilities, outpatient utilization, financial stability, services and access, hospital utilization and physicians. Health systems receive an overall score between 0 and 100. This year the top hospital scored 92.03. Carilion Clinic scored 84.43.

Areas where integrated health networks performed better in 2009 than in previous years included outpatient utilization and physician participation. Additionally, the implementation of information technology – specifically electronic medical records – played an important role in coordinating care across health systems, allowing for better integration.

To view the entire list of top integrated health networks, visit the IHN information page at http://www.sdihealth.com/.

Carilion, Roanoke Mentioned in USA Today Article About Places That Still Have Stable Economies

Great coverage for Roanoke and Carilion in the February 25th issue of USA Today. The article, "In Arkansas and elsewhere, economy stable" focused on that state as an example of Midwest and Southern areas that are faring better better than others in the current economy,, Roanoke and Carilion were mentioned in this three paragraph section:

• In Roanoke, Va., a city of 93,000, the largest employer is Carilion Clinic, a health care company of more than 10,000 workers. Mortgage delinquencies are below the national average.

"We're kind of a steady player," says Beth Doughty, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership. "We don't have dramatic ups and, consequently, don't have any dramatic lows."

A $60 million art museum just opened, and Carilion is building a medical school with Virginia Tech, whose main campus is in nearby Blacksburg. "The only sectors adding jobs are health care and education," Doughty says, "and we're strong in both."

Thanks to Beth Doughty for mentioning Carilion, and for representing the Roanoke region in the article.

America's Most Wanted Visits Officer Bryan Lawrence During His Rehab Session at the Botetourt Athletic Club

Officer Lawrence Is the First Finalist in AMW's 2009 All-Star Award Program

Producer Joey Popp interviews Officer Lawrence after his physicial therapy session at the BAC

The Carilion Clinic Rehabilitation Program at the Botetourt Athletic Club received a visit from a video crew from the America's Most Wanted television program. AMW is honoring Officer Bryan Lawrence, who was paralyzed when he was attacked while arresting a suspect. Officer Lawrence is AMW's first finalist in their All-Star award program.

AMW producer Joey Popp interviewed Lawrence. Afterward they video-taped his physical therapy session during which he was able to stand, unassisted, for the first time.

Check out AMW's website to learn more about his story and the AMW All-Star program. The story will be broadcast on AMW in the next few days.

Roanoke Times Prints Article Updating Changes at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital

Nice story in Sunday's Roanoke Times. A comprehensive look at many of the changes going on at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital. Some may surprise you, such as the 2,000-square-foot state of the art research laboratory.
The article also updates the status of Carilion's Jefferson College of Health Sciences in the building, the success of the new Urgent Care Center, and the new inpatient rehabilitation unit that will open later this year.

Community Hospital continues it's legacy of health care service to the community that helped build it in the 60's.

In one of the photos from the article, Frances Philp, the manager of the new research lab at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital, works with blood samples

CARILION CLINIC RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Carilion Clinic and CEO Edward G. Murphy, M.D. are one of three health care organizations to receive the 2009 CEO-IT Achievement Award from Modern Healthcare magazine


ROANOKE, Va. (February 19, 2009) Crediting Carilion Clinic and its Information Technology staff with orchestrating one of the “largest patient-data conversions ever conducted by a health system”, Modern Healthcare presented Carilion CEO Edward G. Murphy, M.D. with one of three 2009 CEO-IT Achievement Awards in the February 16th issue of the magazine.

The magazine commends Carilion and its information technology staff for “bucking the trend” of slow IT investment across the industry. Carilion is engaged in a multi-million dollar initiative to convert the entire organization to single integrated electronic health record.
“This is a critical part of our effort to coordinate care around the patient and build a clinical support system for nurses, doctors and hospitals,” Murphy said. “This award belongs to Carilion’s staff and IT team, who have worked long hours and committed themselves to a successful transition. “

Dr. Murphy visits Carilion's Transfer Center, a health care "air traffic control tower" of sorts, where nurses track and coordinate patient traffic at Carilion hospitals, working to improve efficiency.

Modern Healthcare publisher Fawn Lopez writes that all three winners of the award demonstrate a strong commitment to collaboration. “We applaud their willingness to put aside competition in favor of patient-care improvement.” Lopez says. “Instead of using IT to gain a competitive edge, they use their expertise to help others…”Murphy and Carilion share the 2009 award with Michal Green, CEO of Concord (N.H.) Hospital, and Anthony Spezia, CEO of Covenant Health in Knoxville

CARILION CLINIC HOSPITALS RECEIVE “CONSUMER CHOICE” AWARD

Carilion Roanoke Memorial and Community Hospitals ranked “most- preferred” in the Roanoke Valley by health care consumers

Carilion Clinic’s Roanoke Hospitals earned the National Research Corporation’s 2008/2009 Consumer Choice Award, recognizing them among the top hospitals in the country. The award is base on a national NRC survey of more than 200,000 households. Health care consumers were asked to rate the quality and image of their local hospitals. Of the 3200 hospitals named by consumers, Carilion’s Roanoke hospitals were among 239 that received NRC’s Consumer Choice Award for ranking highest in their market.

“We are honored to receive this award, because it ultimately comes from the patients we serve,” said Carilion Clinic President and CEO Edward G. Murphy, MD. “It also honors the Carilion employees who are dedicated to raising the bar on quality, service and efficiency. "

"Consumers continue to be empowered to make decisions for themselves and their families when selecting their health care facilities and services," says Ginny Martin, President of NRC’s Healthcare Market Guide Division. "As care options multiply and consumer perception of quality grows in importance, dedication to providing a high level of quality health care becomes essential for hospitals. These Consumer Choice award winners exemplify the dedication it takes to provide quality health care to their communities, and we are please to honor them through the eyes of their patients."

More information about the Consumer Choice Award, including a list of 2008/2009 recipients, is available on the web at hcmg.nationalresearch.com

Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital part of Amazing Survival Story on Dateline NBC

On Sunday, February 15th, Dateline NBC broadcast "Escape From Brushy Mountain", the story of Scott Johnston and Sean Farmer's fight to survive after being shot by infamous Appalachian Trail killer Randall Lee Smith last year.
Scott and Sean were treated at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Click below for a clip from the broadcast, including Scott's reunion with some of the Neurotrauma Intensive Care nurses who treated him.

(One note about the story's mention of the victim's unpaid medical bills - all of Carilion's hospital charges relating to the incident were written off. )

Our best wishes to Scott and Sean!