In the News

Valley Baptist - Harlingen wins National Award for Heart Failure Management

Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen was awarded a national Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence in Heart Failure Management by VHA, a national alliance of not-for-profit hospitals and health care organizations, during the organization’s recent convention in Atlanta, Georgia. The award names Valley Baptist -Harlingen as being among the top 10 percent in the nation in treating this condition.

“This award validates the dedicated focus of our clinical staff and physicians to improve the care provided to our cardiac patients,” said Shane Spees, Chief Executive Officer for Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen. “By adopting evidence-based measures as a standard part of a cardiac patient’s plan of care, we are able to monitor and measure the overall improvement in outcomes.”

Mr. Spees added that the Clinical Excellence Award from VHA is “proof that Valley residents have access to the highest quality of healthcare available in the United States right here at home. The award is a tribute to the many excellent physicians and staff working at Valley Baptist Medical Center - Harlingen. We are honored to receive such recognition.”

VBMC’s Heart Failure Management Program aims to prevent complications in patients at risk for heart failure. The program includes medication management, as well as education on diet and other aspects of heart care.

VHA’s award to Valley Baptist is based on the latest set of core measures that have been nationally accepted as indicators of quality. These “best practice standards” for patients with heart failure include performing assessments of the function of the left ventricle of the heart; providing detailed discharge instructions to each patient; and providing advice and counseling on the importance of smoking cessation prior to the patient’s discharge.

In winning the award, Valley Baptist achieved 100 percent compliance with rate-based indicators for managing heart failure patients.

Valley Baptist has been able to improve patient care through a process improvement program called Six Sigma. Valley Baptist is one of the first health care facilities in Texas to use the Six Sigma method, which was pioneered in high-tech companies such as General Electric. Valley Baptist Health System, under the leadership of its President and CEO James Springfield, has made Six Sigma improvement one of its top corporate initiatives in order to maximize performance and patient satisfaction throughout the health system.

Two of the recent Six Sigma initiatives at VBMC-Harlingen -- which focused on evidenced-based medical management of heart failure and acute myocardial infarction patients -- were recently featured in a state-wide publication, the Texas Medical Foundation’s Clinical News.

The article noted how compliance to standards of care for cardiac patients at VBMC -- with an emphasis on appropriate medication and discharge instructions -- is resulting in “fewer of these patients returning to the Emergency Dept. and that those who do, are presenting at an earlier stage of the cardiac event.” Improved management of these heart conditions has also resulted in reduced length of stay in the hospital and other improvements in patient outcomes.

Pam Warner, RN, Administrative Director for Valley Baptist, serves as the “owner” of the Six Sigma initiative which focuses on better management of heart failure patients at VBMC. Also serving on the Six Sigma team are Dr. Garner Klein, cardiologist (retired); Dr. John Partin, Family Practice Physician; Laurie Preston, LVN, Core Measures Specialist; Carolyn Hutchinson, RN, Nurse Manager for Cardiac Rehabilitation at VBMC; Jerry Salazar, RN, of VBMC’s Progressive Coronary Care Unit; and Leticia Culbertson, RN, Case Manager at VBMC.

ABOUT VHA: VHA Inc. is a national health care provider alliance of leading not-for-profit health care organizations that work together to improve the health of the communities they serve. VHA delivers industry-leading supply chain management services and enables regional and national member networks to improve clinical and operational performance and drive sustainable results. Based in Irving, Texas, VHA has 18 local offices serving members across the United States.