2023 Year in Review at Valley Health

As 2024 approaches, Valley Health looks forward to a year full of new opportunities to serve our community with compassion and innovation.

Before we turn the page on 2023, we’d like to take a quick look back at some of our high points at Valley Health.

January

Valley Health starts 2023 by joining West Virginia University (WVU) Health System, Mountain Health Network, and Marshall Health as an owner in Peak Health, a provider-led health insurance company. Peak Health’s mission is to make healthcare more accessible, understandable, and collaborative.

“Valley Health and WVU Medicine share the common vision of improving the health and well-being of residents in both West Virginia and western Virginia,” said Ben Gerber, president of Peak Health. “Together with our other provider owners, Valley Health will help Peak realize the high-quality, community-based model of care we are building.”

As part of this partnership, Valley Health employees and their dependents now have Peak Health as their primary benefits administrator effective January 1, 2024. For more information on Peak Health, visit PeakHealth.org.

February

Valley Health announces another milestone in surgery: the first robotic Whipple procedures. Devin Flaherty, DO, PhD, and the Valley Health team have completed four Whipple procedures using robotic technology.

A Whipple procedure is a complex surgical treatment that involves removing the head of the pancreas, duodenum (part of the small intestine), gallbladder and portions of the bile duct and stomach. Traditionally, Whipple procedures are performed by hand through a large incision.

Visit the Valley Health Surgical Oncology webpage to learn more about our team.

Other notable moments:

• The 29^th Annual Valley Health Community Wellness Festival returned to the Apple Blossom Mall in Winchester. More than 20 departments were represented along with a range of community health and wellness advocates. Free services included cardiovascular disease screening, blood pressure checks, glucose testing, COVID vaccines, and more.

March

For the second time in as many years, Valley Health’s Shenandoah Memorial Hospital in Woodstock, Virginia, earns its place as one of the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the country. This designation is based on data compiled by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. Shenandoah Memorial Hospital (SMH) is one of just two hospitals in Virginia to receive this award in 2023, and the only Virginia hospital to receive it two years in a row.

“We were honored to be recognized as a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital last year,” said N. Travis Clark, vice president of operations. “Now to have back-to-back recognition validates how hard our SMH team has been working to not only provide excellent patient care, but to sustain our efforts during what can only be described as a very challenging time.”

In 2022, the hospital completed a major renovation and expansion of its Outpatient Rehabilitation Services space to enhance coordinated care and patient safety and comfort. The hospital also purchased a second CT scanner and was the first in Virginia to acquire the advanced technology of the new GE CT Revolution Ascend machine.

Other notable moments:

• Valley Health’s website debuts a refreshed look. Key features of the redesigned site include a dedicated section for careers, improved location finding system, updated site navigation, mobile responsiveness for on-the-go access and more.
• Care for the Caregiver, an employee well-being program, launches systemwide. All Valley Health employees can access emotional and mental health resources following a traumatic work event. This initiative is among several to ensure Valley Health team members have the resources needed to perform their jobs at the highest level.
• War Memorial Hospital in Berkeley Springs celebrates John Kielek’s 100^th birthday. John is an extended care unit resident and enjoyed a party surrounded by caregivers and his fellow residents. The Morgan Messenger stopped by to write a news article about the occasion.

April

Fortune and PINC AI™ names Winchester Medical Center (WMC) one of the nation’s top 50 cardiovascular hospitals for 2023. The annual 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study identifies hospitals that demonstrate the highest clinical and operational performance in cardiovascular services. Fortune published the recognized hospitals in an online article on March 15.

WMC received five stars for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and heart failure, indicating performance at the top quintile within its peer group, and four stars for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

“I am proud of our highly experienced team and our multidisciplinary clinical programs,” said cardiologist Jeffrey Skiles, MD, chair of the Heart & Vascular Center Oversight Committee at WMC. “Earning a spot on this year’s list of the 50 top cardiovascular hospitals is a well-deserved validation of the hard work and dedication of our clinicians, staff and leaders.”

Other notable moments:

• Valley Health and Shenandoah University announce a partnership to help tackle the region’s nursing shortage through NextGen Nurses, a program drawing on the expertise of semi-retired and retiring nurses to help train the next generation of nurses before they leave the profession.

May

Valley Health’s two acute care hospitals – Winchester Medical Center (WMC) and Warren Memorial Hospital (WMH) – again earn “A” Hospital Safety Grades from The Leapfrog Group, an independent, nonprofit national watchdog organization, recognizing their achievements in protecting patients from harm in the hospital setting. This was WMC’s seventh straight “A” rating, and WMH’s third in a row. Valley Health’s acute care hospitals were once again the highest graded facilities in the Northern Shenandoah Valley/Eastern Panhandle region.

“Earning our seventh straight A grade from the Leapfrog Group is truly an honor and reflects the dedication of our entire team at Winchester Medical Center,” said Tonya Smith, president, Winchester Medical Center, and senior vice president of acute care for Valley Health.

Warren Memorial Hospital Administrator Jennifer Coello said receiving the hospital’s third consecutive “A” grade further affirms the WMH staff’s continued focus on patient safety. “Our caregivers are committed to providing safe, high-quality care for every patient, every time. Each of us plays an important role in ensuring the safety of our patients, and we take that responsibility very seriously.”

Visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org to find the latest hospital safety grades.

Other notable moments:

• Valley Health’s Heart & Vascular Center at Winchester Medical Center receives the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2023. WMC was one of only 262 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor.
• Dr. Aref Bin Abdulhak performs the first Alcohol Septal Ablation at Winchester Medical Center. This procedure is less invasive than traditional ablation techniques and involves inserting alcohol into a patient’s heart through a catheter, reducing the thickness of heart muscle and improving blood flow.
• Valley Health leaders meet with Virginia Sen. Mark Warner to discuss caring for caregivers in a post-pandemic world, funding for healthcare training programs, telemedicine, rural broadband coverage, and cybersecurity for hospitals and healthcare providers.

June

In response to the increase in violence against healthcare workers nationwide, Valley Health joins other hospitals and the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) in the Hospitals Against Violence Initiative.

Valley Health Chief Nursing Executive Theresa Trivette participates in the VHHA Chief Nursing Officer/Nurse Leader Forum and, in collaboration with other leaders, helps develop this video campaign as part of the annual Hospitals Against Violence Initiative.

Other notable moments:

• Valley Health’s Metabolic & Bariatric Program at Winchester Medical Center receives an Aetna Bariatric Institute of Quality designation for treating individuals living with morbid, or extreme, obesity.
• “Here’s to you,” Valley Health’s newest TV commercial and brand campaign, launches. The ad features Valley Health team members celebrating all who call the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding areas home.
• Barbara McWhinney, Valley Health’s longest-tenured employee, retires after 55 years of service. Her retirement was marked with a party, gifts from her alma mater Shenandoah University, and a news article from The Winchester Star.

July

Together, Valley Health and PHI Air Medical joined forces and cut the ribbon on a new helicopter that will deliver enhanced care to the region. Through the partnership, PHI provides medical flight crew, pilots and maintenance for the Valley Health-branded aircraft. PHI is the leading air ambulance provider across the country, safely transporting over 30,000 patients a year.

Other notable moments:

• Winchester Medical Center celebrates its 5,000th robotics case with the da Vinci Xi robot. The robot delivers care that results in better precision, less pain and less recovery time.
• The Commission on Cancer, a program of the American College of Surgeons, awards a three-year accreditation to the Valley Health Cancer Center at WMC.
• Senator Tim Kaine visits Valley Health to get a first-hand look at our state-of-the-art digital health systems.
• U.S. News & World Report releases its 2023 Best Hospital Rankings. Winchester Medical Center is named a Best Regional Hospital, ranking No. 8 in Virginia.
• Page Memorial Hospital makes the list of the best hospitals for physician communication in Virginia, standing alongside only six other Virginia hospitals, according to Becker’s.

August

Valley Health Urgent Care celebrates 30 years of service to the community. In 1993, Valley Health opened its first Urgent Care in Winchester at the Jubal Early location. Since then, Valley Health Urgent Care has grown to nine locations across Virginia and West Virginia and continues to deliver compassionate care for non-emergent medical needs.

Other notable moments:

• Mark Nantz, president and CEO of Valley Health System, is named to Virginia Business magazine’s fourth annual “Virginia 500” listing of top leaders in the commonwealth.
• Shenandoah Memorial Hospital receives a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as part of its Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings, placing the hospital among the top 15% of the more than 3,000 hospitals surveyed nationwide.
• Page Memorial Hospital and War Memorial Hospital are recognized as the top recommended hospitals in Virginia and West Virginia, respectively, by Becker’s.
• Berryville Medical Associates officially joins Valley Health.

September

Warren Memorial Hospital (WMH) is redesignated as an ANCC Pathway to Excellence organization for its high nurse satisfaction and engagement. WMH is one of 203 organizations in the country to earn this recognition.

“We are extremely proud of this accomplishment and all the hard work that went into achieving and maintaining our Pathway to Excellence status,” said Jennifer Coello, Vice President, Operations and Administrator at WMH. “Our nurses are the backbone of our hospital and are critical in providing our patients with the care they deserve and trust. By making a commitment to our caregivers, WMH is also making a commitment to the health of our patients, their families and our entire community.”

Other notable moments:

• Valley Health is recognized as a Wellbeing First Champion by the American Medical Association for supporting and protecting our clinicians’ well-being, while also removing barriers to support the mental health of our caregivers.
• Winchester Medical Center is recertified as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center, marking 17 years of Advanced Primary Stroke Center certification.

October

Valley Health Wellness & Fitness celebrates 15 years. Since opening in 2008 on the campus of Winchester Medical Center, the Valley Health Wellness & Fitness Center has helped thousands of individuals pursue their wellness goals.

Other notable moments:

• The Berkeley Springs-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce selects War Memorial Hospital as the first-ever Large Business of the Year award winner.
• The Valley Health Metabolic and Bariatric Program launches an adolescent non-surgical medical program to help teens 16-18 years old with weight management.

November

Valley Health implements its own instance of Epic, the electronic medical record (EMR) it first adopted in 2014 with Inova Health System. Valley Health hospitals, outpatient clinics and providers rely on Epic to document care; order tests and procedures; and communicate with patients, the healthcare team and referring providers. The Epic upgrade gives Valley Health more flexibility and independence to better serve the needs of our community.

Other notable moments:

• Valley Health rolls out a new mobile app, My Valley Health, which makes accessing care easier and more convenient.
• Valley Health’s two acute care hospitals – Winchester Medical Center and Warren Memorial Hospital–again earn “A” hospital safety grades from The Leapfrog Group, making them the highest-graded facilities in the Northern Shenandoah Valley/Eastern Panhandle region.
• Winchester Medical Center attains its fourth Magnet recognition. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program distinguishes healthcare organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. Only 10% of U.S. hospitals are Magnet designated.
• Valley Health holds its first-ever film festival for its employees, with more than 20 shows over seven days at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.

December

U.S. News & World Report names Winchester Medical Center a 2024 High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy). This is the highest award a hospital can earn for U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care. WMC earned a High Performing designation as measured by several factors, including minimizing early scheduled deliveries, avoidable C-sections and newborn complications.

Other notable moments:

• The Winchester Medical Center Auxiliary holds its 36th annual tree lighting ceremony on the Winchester Medical Center campus to remember the loved ones we lost in our community.
• Warren Memorial Hospital held its 41st annual Celebration of Lights event organized by the hospital’s Auxiliary.
• The Outpatient Behavioral Health team at Winchester Medical Center celebrates 10 years of serving the mental health needs of the community. The program was created in response to Valley Health’s Community Needs Assessment, which identified that depression, anxiety, grief, loss and chronic disease-related pain were impacting many older adults in our community.
• The Valley Health Cancer Center at Winchester Medical Center has once again earned a three-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons. WMC has been NAPRC-accredited since 2021, when the hospital became the first in the tri-state area to receive this accreditation.