Tag: Hospitals

5 W.Va. Hospitals Recognized as High Performers in Annual Report

Five hospitals in West Virginia have been recognized as high performing by the annual U.S. World and News Report “Best Hospitals” report. Charleston Area…

Five hospitals in West Virginia have been recognized as high performing by the annual U.S. World and News Report “Best Hospitals” report. 

Charleston Area Medical Center was ranked overall number one in the state followed by WVU Medicine. 

Mon Health and St. Mary’s Medical Center were tied for third and Thomas Memorial was fifth. 

But out of those, only WVU Medicine was nationally ranked for any specialty care. The university system received recognition for both their adult and pediatric urology programs. And of the five, Mon Health Medical Center had the highest patient satisfaction ratings. 

The report was published at the end of July and assessed 67 hospitals in West Virginia. To be considered for ranking, a hospital must meet one of four criteria, including being a teaching hospital, being affiliated with a medical school or having at least 200 beds. 

Hospital performance is then assessed using several data banks such as the American Hospital Association as well as patient outcomes, patient experience and expert opinion.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, with support from Marshall Health and Charleston Area Medical Center.

Hospital Acquisition Deal Finalized in West Virginia

The acquisition of St. Mary’s Medical Center by a hospital in West Virginia has been made official.

Cabell Huntington Hospital board of directors Chairman Dr. Kevin Yingling says the hospital finished the final steps of financing and paperwork to complete the acquisition of St. Mary’s Medical Center.

WSAZ-TV reported Thursday that both hospitals will be carrying out plans that included integrating electronic medical records and recruiting qualified physician specialists.

Years of litigation ended when Steel of West Virginia and Cabell Huntington agreed Steel of West Virginia would withdraw its challenges.

Steel of West Virginia backed off when Cabell Huntington promised to work with area businesses to improve overall workforce health and reduce incidents of hospitalization.

End of Life Registry Helps Patients Die at Home

Most Americans say they want to die at home. But without the right paperwork, many end up living out their final days in institutions or hospitals. The West Virginia e-Directive Registry is trying to change that.

The e-Directive Registry includes advanced directives, living wills, medical orders and Do Not Resuscitate cards. These documents help medical providers understand West Virginians’ end-of-life wishes, including where participants want to die and what kind of treatment they want in their last days of life. 

In 2016, nearly half those who participated in the registry died at home compared to 36 percent statewide, according to the West Virginia Center for End-of-Life Care.

The issue is also an economic one. The average cost per patient per day in a hospital stepdown unit is almost $8,000 compared to $180 a day for in-home Hospice care, according to center director Alvin Moss. Moss says more than 4,000 registry participants died in 2016, which saved $45 million on health care charges at the end of life.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated 02/21/2017 3:36pm

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, with support from the Benedum Foundation, Charleston Area Medical Center and WVU Medicine.

Highland Hospital Agrees to Sell Charleston Facilities

Highland Hospital officials say the mental health center’s board of directors has agreed to sell its Charleston facilities to Tennessee-based behavioral health care company Acadia Healthcare Company Inc.

Cynthia Persily, president and CEO of the Highland Hospital Association, said Acadia has issued a letter of intent to buy Highland. Persily says the two companies will now work toward a finalized agreement, which Highland hopes to have in place by Sept. 30.

Franklin, Tennessee-based Acadia operates facilities in 39 states. Its purchase of Highland would include Highland’s acute psychiatric hospital in Kanawha City; Highland Health Center Inc., a 16-bed residential treatment and detoxification program; and Process Strategies, an outpatient provider with integrated behavioral health care, primary care and pharmacy services.

Uncompensated Care Declines at West Virginia Hospitals

An advocacy group says declines in uncompensated care have saved West Virginia hospitals millions of dollars.

State data compiled by West Virginians for Affordable Health Care show more than two dozen hospitals saved a total of more than $265 million from 2013 to 2014.

The group’s founder and former director, Perry Bryant, told The Charleston Gazette-Mail that hospitals should use these savings to improve the health of their communities.

Bryant says Charleston Area Medical Center’s charity care and bad debt dropped by 47 percent, from $137 million to $72.6 million. West Virginia University Hospitals’ uncompensated care fell by 54 percent, from $94 million to $43 million.

Since 2013, more than 200,000 West Virginians have obtained health insurance through Medicaid or the health insurance marketplace.

W.Va. Authority Approves Rate Increases for Five Hospitals

Five hospitals have received state approval to raise their rates.

The rate increases approved by the West Virginia Health Care Authority apply to nongovernmental patients paying with private insurance or out-out-pocket.

The Charleston Gazette reports that Logan Regional Medical Center’s average rate will increase from $21,512 to $22,587.

Williamson Memorial Hospital’s average rate will rise from $11,759 to $12,229.

The average rate at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center will increase from $13,486 to $14,320.

United Hospital Center received permission to increase its average rate from $21,133 to $21,916.

Raleigh General Hospital’s average rate will increase from $23,333 to $24,476.

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