WMH and WMC earn an “A” in hospital safety
Valley Health’s two acute care hospitals, Warren Memorial Hospital and Winchester Medical Center, earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group.
This makes them the highest graded facilities in the Northern Shenandoah Valley/Eastern Panhandle region.
Grades reflected in the 2023 review are the first since the pandemic and represent WMC’s 8th straight A rating and fourth for WMH.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harm to patients utilizing 30 different safety performance measures.
The grading system is peer reviewed and open to the public for additional transparency.
Grades are updated each fall and spring.
Tonya Smith, president of Winchester Medical Center and senior vice president of acute care for Valley Health said, “I’m extremely proud to work alongside a team of caregivers who prioritize patient safety- every day, on every shift, throughout the hospital.”
A link to the full announcement with Fall 2023 Hospital Safety Grades is available here.
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WMC nurses recognized for excellence
The Winchester Medical Center attained its fourth Magnet recognition for its commitment to nursing excellence.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program awards healthcare organizations that meet rigorous standards to determine high-quality nursing.
Only 10% of hospitals throughout the country, including 27 in Virginia, have earned the Magnet designation.
Some of the components used to gauge an organization include the quality of nursing leadership, coordination and collaboration across specialties, as well as processes for measuring and improving the quality and delivery of care.
To achieve initial recognition, healthcare organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy electronic application, written patient care documentation, an on-site visit, and a review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition.
Organizations must reapply every 4 years.
Winchester Medical Center was first designated in 2008 and redesignated in 2013 and 2018.
Organizations with the recognition have shown to have higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication, lower risk of 30-day mortality and lower failure rescue rates, higher job satisfaction among nurses, and lower nurse reports of intentions to leave.
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WMC is named a High Performing Hospital
Valley Health (VH) announced that Winchester Medical Center (WMC) has been named a 2022-23 High Performing Hospital.
WMC was named a High Performer in 12 procedures and conditions by U.S. News and World Report.
High Performing is the highest award a hospital can earn for Best Hospitals Procedures and Conditions ratings.
In addition WMC was named best regional hospital in the Shenandoah Valley and ranked 6 in the state this year.
U.S. News and World Report evaluated More than 4,500 across 15 specialties and 20 procedures and conditions.
Fewer than half of all hospitals received any High Performance ratings.
Only four of those hospitals earned the High Performance rating in all procedures and conditions.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Valley Health receives “A” safety grade
Valley Health’s acute care hospitals, Winchester Medical Center and Warren Memorial Hospital, earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group.
The organization is a national nonprofit which recognizes organizations for protecting their patients from harm in the hospital.
A, B, C, D, or F grades are given based on safety performance measures which includes errors, injuries, infections, and accidents as well as systems in place to prevent harm.
Only 14% of organizations evaluated receive the highest “A” rating.
Valley Health has secured that rating since 2020.
To see the full grades for WMH and WMC, head to HospitalSafetyGrade.org.
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Night club shooting leaves Winchester man dead
Early Friday morning, a shooting occurred at the Touch of Texas nightclub in Bunker Hill, WV.
Upon arrival at the scene, authorities found Diata Johnson, 21 of Winchester, VA, shot in the parking lot.
He was transported to Winchester Medical Center but later died from his injuries.
Authorities at the scene identified the shooter but did not release his information.
The investigation is still ongoing and anyone with information on the shooting should contact the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department at 304-267-7000.
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VSP investigate a fatal Frederick County accident
An email from Public Information Officer Sergeant Brent Coffey of the Virginia State Police (VSP) confirms a fatal accident in Frederick County.
The incident accorded at the intersection of Rt. 50 and Gore Rd.
Donald Killian of Parkville Maryland attempted a left turn when he was struck by a vehicle from Mathias West Virginia.
The impact caused Killian’s vehicle to strike a third vehicle at a stop sign.
Carla Simmons of Mathias West Virginia died at the scene from her injuries.
Simmons’ driver had to be transported to Winchester Medical Center (WMC) for treatment of serious injuries.
No one in the vehicle from Mathias West Virginia was wearing a seatbelt.
Occupants of the other vehicles were wearing their safety belts with no other injuries reported.
Killian has been charged with reckless driving.
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