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!

Medical School Construction Update

If you drive along the South Jefferson Street corridor, then you've probably noticed that a crane is now assembling the steel frame of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.

Carilion Clinic Patient Featured in Roanoke Times Article

If you haven't read it yet, check out Courtney Cutright's article in the Roanoke Times about 8-year-old Allyson McClellan - Allyson and her family are an inspiration. Click the photo below to read the online version on the RT web site.

The article mentioned the "last chemo song" serenade to celebrate Allyson's last chemo treatment - click below to watch.

Carilion Clinic Goes Red for Women's Health

Update:
Watch WSLS's coverage of Carilion's Go Red For Women day.
Click below.



Carilion Clinic employees showed their committment to Women's health for this year's annual Go Red for Women day. This year event coordinators at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital held a health fair in one of the hospital's 6th floor waiting rooms. Click on the pictures in the photo gallery below.

Thank You Panera!Panera Bread Raises $4700 for Free Cancer Screenings

CARILION CLINIC AND PANERA BREAD CO. WORK TO IMPROVE WOMEN ’S HEALTH
ROANOKE, Va. (Feb. 4, 2009) – Carilion Clinic was presented with a check for $4,700 from Panera Bread Co. to provide much needed screenings for women in the area through the Every Woman’s Life (EWL) program. EWL, a federally funded program through the Virginia Department of Health, helps women who are low-income and uninsured or underinsured to be screened for breast and cervical cancer.

"With the current difficult economic situation, more and more women are in need of services EWL provides. In order to continue providing these valuable services, additional money is needed," said Kathy Womack, Oncology Community Services Specialist with Carilion and coordinator of the EWL program.

Carilion Clinic and Panera Bread Co. began a partnership in the fall with the Positively Pink Parade – a celebration of life for breast cancer survivors, their families and supporters. As the administrative provider of EWL in the area, Carilion Clinic looked to their partnership with Panera to continue their cause to improve women’s health. I

Funds for EWL were raised through the sales of Pink Ribbon bagels, "fight like a girl" awareness rings and personal donations matched by Panera Bread Co. during Breast Cancer Awareness month. The money raised will allow Carilion Clinic to provide more screening services for women who qualify for the EWL program.

For more information about the EWL program, please visit www.vahealth.org/breastcancer.

Click below to watch Lauren Perpetua and jenny McCombs present the check to Kathy Womack and participants in the EWL program.

Training for Health Care Jobs in a Weak Economy

Health care jobs are hot as the economy cools - Click below to watch WSLS's coverage of Carilion's Jefferson College of Health Sciences.

Burn Awareness Week - February 1-7 Safe Kids Southwest VA Cautions Parents - It Doesn't Take Fire to Burn a Child

ROANOKE, Va (February 2, 2009) — During National Burn Awareness Week (February 1-7), Safe Kids Southwest VA reminds parents and caregivers that fire is just one cause of burn injuries — children can also be seriously injured by hot foods and beverages, heating appliances, hot pots and pans, electrical currents and chemicals.
Among all accidental injuries, fire and burns are the number five cause of death in children ages 14 and under — in part because young children cannot recognize heat-related hazards quickly enough to react appropriately.

Children’s skin burns at lower temperatures and more deeply than that of older children and adults. A child exposed to 140-degree Fahrenheit liquid for five seconds will sustain a third-degree burn.

Each year, approximately 113,600 children ages 14 and under are treated for fire/burn injuries and 518 children die due to unintentional fire- and burn-related injury. Scald burns, caused by hot liquids or steam, are more common types of burn-related injuries among young children, compared to contact burns, caused by direct contact with fire, which is more prevalent among older children. Hot tap water can cause very severe burns and accounts for many deaths and hospitalizations. “Kids are also at risk around hot foods and beverages, space heaters, steam irons and curling irons,” says Jill Lucas, Safe Kids Roanoke coordinator. “There’s a lot you can do around the home to minimize the risk of burn injuries in everyday life.”
Safe Kids Southwest VA urges caregivers to:

• Reduce water temperature. Set your hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Consider putting anti-scald devices (about $40) on each water faucet and shower head. Check the bathwater with your wrist or elbow before placing your child in it.


• Prevent spills. If possible, cook with pots and pans on back burners and turn handles away from the front. Avoid wearing long sleeves or baggy clothes in the kitchen. Don’t place containers of hot food or liquid near the edge of a counter or table and remove tablecloths.


• Establish a “kid-free zone.” Make the stove area a “kid-free zone” (3 feet is a good distance). Mark it on the floor with bright tape. Never leave your child alone in the kitchen. Don’t hold children while cooking or while carrying hot foods and beverages.


• Test food and drink temperature. Taste cooked foods and heated liquids to make sure they’re not too hot for children. Never microwave a baby’s bottle. Drinks heated in a microwave may be much hotter than their containers. Instead, heat bottles with warm water and test them before feeding your child.


• Keep electrical cords out of reach — especially extension cords and cords connected to heating appliances such as coffee pots and deep fryers. Make sure electrical cords can’t be pulled or snagged into a bathtub or sink. Don’t leave a hot iron sitting on an ironing board unattended.


• Childproof your home. Cover open electrical outlets so children can’t insert metal objects into outlets, which can cause electrical burns. Lock matches, lighters and flammable materials out of a child’s reach. Keep children away from candles and other open flames.


• Actively supervise. Simply being in the same room with a child is not necessarily supervising. Safety precautions are important, but there is no substitute for active supervision.


• Don’t let children play with or ignite fireworks. Fireworks injured more than 2,304 children in 2006 and are illegal in Virginia. Fireworks are intended for use by adults in open spaces with plenty of active supervision for every child present.

The theme of this year’s Burn Awareness Week is preventing gasoline burns. “If you buy gasoline cans, get the ones with child resistant gas caps. Remember to keep all flammable liquids out of sight and reach of children and don’t let children play with matches or gasoline, says Lucas.
It is still important to take precautions against fire, too. “You need a smoke alarm on each level of your home and in every sleeping area. Make sure each alarm actually works,” says Lucas.. Test your smoke alarms once a month and replace the batteries once a year (except for lithium batteries that last for 10 years according to manufacturer’s instructions). A working smoke alarm reduces the risk of dying in a fire by nearly half.

For more information about burn prevention, call 800-422-8482 or visit http://www.usa.safekids.org/.

Safe Kids Southwest VA works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading killer of children ages 1 to 14. .Safe Kids Southwest VA is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury. Safe Kids Southwest VA is led by Carilion Clinic.