Las Vegas HEALS News

Stay Informed
Aug 28
0

Clark County Medical Society Receives AAMSE President’s Award for Opioid Education Programming

By | Awards, Press Release, Recognition

The Clark County Medical Society (CCMS) received the American Association of Medical Society Executives (AAMSE) Profiles of Excellence President’s Award on Friday, July 27 in recognition of the society’s outstanding work on educating their members about new opioid laws in Nevada.

The program, Understanding New Opioid Laws in Nevada, was a collaborative effort among staff, physician members, and our partners at the Nevada State Medical Association (NSMA) to help physicians in Nevada better understand Assembly Bill 474, which implemented strict new regulations regarding the prescription and use of opioids in response to the growing opioid epidemic in the United States.

“We are incredibly grateful to AAMSE for presenting us with this award, and want to share this recognition with all of our community partners and physician members who helped make this program a success,” said Alexandra P. Silver, the Executive Director of CCMS. “It was very important for us as a medical society to make sure our doctors had a seat at the table when it came to this legislation, which had caused them a lot of concern in its initial form.”

The program consisted of several events to help educate and gain input from physician’s and the community, including a town hall at the City of Las Vegas Council Chamber which saw over 300 attendees. Other aspects of the program included free and discounted CME opportunities for CCMS members, and participation on the task force which was addressing the legislation.

“Our ability to get direct input from our members to affect this legislation is a perfect example of why it is more important than ever to be involved in organized medicine,” Silver said. “We help our physicians get their voices heard, so that they can focus on what they do best — providing fantastic health care to our community.”

The award was presented during the annual AAMSE Conference, which brings medical society and association executives together once a year for a series of keynote speeches, best practices seminars, and roundtable discussions regarding how to improve the services these organizations provide.

“Every day there are medical societies making a positive impact on their members and in their communities with programs and campaigns that advance the field of organized medicine and improve the lives of physicians and the patients they serve,” said Steve Levine, president of AAMSE. “AAMSE is committed to recognizing these efforts with the Profiles of Excellence awards.”

About Clark County Medical Society

The Clark County Medical Society was chartered on July 15, 1955 by the Nevada State Medical Association and has grown to 2,000 members. We are proud to have served Southern Nevada physicians and their patients for the past 63 years.

Apr 09
0

Spring Valley Hospital Named Wound Care Center® of the Year by Healogics

By | Awards, Press Release, Recognition

Award recognizes seven hospitals in the nation 

 The Advanced Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center at Spring Valley Hospital received the distinguished Center of the Year award for the West zone from Healogics, Inc. This zone includes centers from 13 states, including Nevada, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah and Washington.

The Advanced Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center at Spring Valley Hospital earned a patient satisfaction rate of 97.5 percent, and 93 percent of its patients’ wounds are healed within 30 days. The team cared for more than 500 patients in 2017, always with the goal of healing wounds, preventing amputations and improving patients’ quality of life.

“I’m very proud of our team’s dedication and expertise to healing complex wounds,” said Leonard Freehof, CEO of Spring Valley Hospital. “Along with wound care and hyperbaric medicine, we established a Limb Salvage program. Our focus is on prevention and early intervention to heal conditions affecting the legs, feet and toes, and help prevent the loss of a limb.”

The Wound Care Center is under the direction of medical director Lubna Javed, MD, and program director Ernie Elliott. It offers specialized wound care to patients with diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections and other chronic wounds that have not healed in a timely manner. Advanced treatments include negative pressure wound therapy, bio-engineered skin substitutes, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, biological and biosynthetic dressings and growth factor therapies.

The Advanced Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center at Spring Valley Hospital also received the President’s Circle Award for exceeding clinical outcomes and operational goals for the second year in a row, and the Center of Excellence Award for exceeding clinical outcomes for the second year in a row.

Nearly 700 wound care centers managed by Healogics had the opportunity to qualify for the Center of the Year award; only seven were honored.

May 24
0

Nevada Small Business Person of the Year: Dr. Eva D. Littman

By | Awards, Press Releases, Recent Releases, Recognition

Before Dr. Littman founded Red Rock Fertility in Las Vegas, the Las Vegas community had to travel to California and elsewhere to get the appropriate care. When she opened the center, she wanted to make sure that the Las Vegas community as well as the international community, had access to not only personalized physician care, but also the highest standard of fertility care that could be offered.

Red Rock Fertility CenterDr. Littman says that what drives her is “the challenge – the challenge of being able to take situations that others have failed at, and to succeed.” It is not only challenging to own and run a small business but to encounter obstacles in her work every day in reproduction is truly miraculous. As the founder of this small business, she has worked hard to produce high pregnancy success rates in Las Vegas, throughout the US and abroad. Dr. Littman truly is passionate about accepting and overcoming challenges. She often takes cases with less than five percent chance of pregnancy. She is motivated by being able to make people’s dreams come true after they’ve almost given up hope.

Red Rock Fertility is a modern, boutique-style fertility practice. With a team oriented approach to healthcare, they ensure that their patients receive the highest quality of care and in turn, high success rates. They offer a full range of services and treatments, including In Vitro Fertilization. The practice was founded in 2008 by Dr. Eva Littman and has grown to be one of the most successful fertility centers on the West Coast. The Red Rock team prides themselves on specializing in challenging cases and helping patients that other doctors have deemed as having a slim chance on conceiving.

Red Rock Fertility purchased a new building at 9120 W. Russell Road in Southwest Las Vegas in December 2014. The two-story, 12,500-square-foot building was purchased with an SBA 504 loan from TMC Financing. TMC Financing provided $1.7 million of the project’s $4.7 million total cost.

In the first week of May, Dr. Littman will join winners from all 50 states and US territories in Washington, D.C. for the announcement of SBA’s National Small Business Person of the Year. The applicants are judged based on the history of the company, their business plans, analysis of growth, and how they have overcome adversity.

Click here to view the full list of winners.

May 23
0

Ronald McDonald House Charities to Award a Record 269 Scholarship Recipients!

By | Awards, Charity Organizations, Grants/Endowments, Press Releases, Recent Releases

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Greater Las Vegas, McDonald’s owner/operators of Greater Las Vegas, and local community partners are proud to announce the RMHC of Greater Las Vegas Scholarship Program recipients for 2017. More than $369,000 will be awarded in 2017 on behalf of RMHC, McDonald’s, and local community partners. 150 high school seniors and another 119 college students who were previous recipients, have been chosen to receive various scholarships offered through the RMHC of Greater Las Vegas Scholarship Program.

“We know that a number of these students would not have the chance to go to college if it weren’t for the support they’re receiving from these scholarships,” says Alyson McCarthy, Executive Director of RMHC of Greater Las Vegas. “This program allows us the opportunity to help make a student’s dream of higher education come true.”

The RMHC of Greater Las Vegas Scholarship Program has awarded more than $4.1 million in scholarships to students in Clark and Nye counties since the program began in 1999.

Local McDonald’s owner/operators help raise funds for the scholarship program by donating proceeds from every Las Vegas Review Journal newspaper sold at participating McDonald’s restaurants and by hosting “Eggs for Education,” an annual in-store fundraising event each spring. McDonald’s has contributed more than $2.1 million to the local RMHC Scholarship Program.

“Paying for college can be tough and very expensive. In today’s economic climate, really good students, whose parents may be financially strapped, are facing the prospect of having to put their college dreams on hold indefinitely,” said Eva Martin, local McDonald’s Owner/Operator.

RMHC of Greater Las Vegas has also partnered with several local community organizations in an effort to offer a wider scope of scholarship opportunities. The following partners have contributed more than $65,000 towards the 2017 program:

100 Black Men of Las Vegas Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Dr. MLK The Village Foundation, LJP The Links Inc., Las Vegas Chapter Hispanic Educators Association of NV Hannah Brown Foundation Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. James and Eva Martin Charitable Trust

Scholarship recipients were chosen based on financial need, academic achievement, community involvement, and future career goals. A committee made up of McDonald’s owner/operators, RMHC of Greater Las Vegas Board Members, and a diverse group of community leaders review and score the applications and make final recommendations to the RMHC of Greater Las Vegas Board of Trustees.

Applications are available online in October. For more information, please visit www.rmhlv.org.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities: Believing that every child deserves a safe and supportive place to grow, Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) of Greater Las Vegas creates and supports programs that directly improve the health, education and well-being of children in our community. We fulfill our mission by providing a home-away-from-home at the Ronald McDonald House® for families who travel to Las Vegas to receive critical medical treatment for their children, and manage programs that service the immediate needs of children and families in our community. For more information on RMHC of Greater Las Vegas, visit www.rmhlv.org.

May 10
0

Amerigroup Nevada Receives Multicultural Health Care Distinction from the National Committee for Quality Assurance

By | Awards, Press Releases, Recent Releases, Recognition

Health Plan Honored for Its Achievement in Providing Culturally Diverse Programs and Decreasing Health Disparities Among Nevadans

Amerigroup Nevada announced today that is has been recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), which awards distinction to organizations that meet or exceed its rigorous requirements for multicultural healthcare. In acknowledgement of these efforts, NCQA awarded the health plan with the Multicultural Health Care Distinction, which recognizes organizations that lead the market in providing culturally and linguistically sensitive services, and work to reduce healthcare disparities.

“As the demographics of America continue to shift to a more ethnically and diverse society, Amerigroup Nevada continues to be attuned to the cultural and socio-economic factors that impact our members’ access to high quality healthcare,” said Eric Lloyd, Amerigroup Nevada president. “We are honored to receive the NCQA Multicultural Health Care Distinction, as it is a testament to our unwavering commitment to address the needs of our distinct members and providers, and validates how we are making a positive impact in the diverse communities we serve.”

In addition, NCQA also awarded the Multicultural Health Care Distinction to16 other Medicaid health plans affiliated with Amerigroup Nevada’s parent Company.

“Earning Multicultural Health Care Distinction shows that an organization is making a breakthrough in providing excellent health care to diverse populations. I congratulate any organization that achieves this level of distinction,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane.

“Eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health care is essential to improving the quality of care overall.”

The NCQA Multicultural Health Care Distinction is a symbol of quality in organizational efforts to address the diverse needs of its members. The Multicultural Health Care Distinction evaluates organizations, such as health plans, wellness, disease management and managed behavioral health organizations through use of an evidence-based set of requirements. These standards create a roadmap for improving and refining initiatives.

About Amerigroup Nevada

Amerigroup Nevada helps improve health care access and quality for approximately 190,000 low-income Nevadans by developing innovative care management programs and services. Members are assured care that is not only accessible, but also accountable, comprehensive, integrated and patient-centered. Amerigroup Nevada provides ongoing community relations and outreach to encourage members to become active participants in their health care. Through health education programs, members are empowered to choose and sustain a healthy lifestyle.

About NCQA

NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA is committed to providing health care quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers and researchers.

Apr 26
0

Health District’s Chong-Dao, McCloskey Named Silver Syringe Recipients by Immunize Nevada

By | Awards, Press Releases, Recent Releases, Recognition

Immunize Nevada is honoring the Southern Nevada Health District’s MeeKee Chong-Dao, RN and Lynda McCloskey, RN for their efforts to ensure Southern Nevadans, especially children, are vaccinated against preventable diseases. Both will be honored at the upcoming Silver Syringe awards, an annual event during National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), April 22-29.

Chong-Dao was named Outstanding Immunization Champion. She is the Community Health Nurse Supervisor for the Health District’s Immunization Program. In this position, she has helped expand immunization services to underserved populations and rural Clark County communities such as Searchlight and Laughlin as well as outreach activities to educate Southern Nevadans about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.

McCloskey is recognized as the Outstanding Immunization Nurse for her continued collaborative efforts with community partners and health care professionals as a resource and advocate for immunizations. Currently, she serves as the Quality Assurance Review Coordinator for the Vaccines for Children Program.

“We are honored that two of our immunization nurses are being recognized by our partner, Immunize Nevada. As a community, we continue to make gains in immunization rates, and MeeKee and Lynda are two of the main reasons why our efforts are paying off,” said Dr. Fermin Leguen, Southern Nevada Health District Director of Clinical Services.

“The Annual Silver Syringe Awards have become a prestigious award ceremony celebrating immunization champions in Nevada,” said Immunize Nevada Executive Director Heidi Parker. “The awards ceremony gives us the opportunity to recognize passionate individuals and organizations that are committed to making Nevada a healthier state.”

The 15 Silver Syringe categories recognize health care providers and community partners, nominated by their peers, as exemplifying outstanding immunization practices in a specific category.

Silver Syringe began in 1998 as a way to celebrate Nevada’s immunization successes and champions. Today, the event has become a statewide tradition for Nevada’s immunization and health care stakeholders.

Access information about the Southern Nevada Health District on its website: www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SouthernNevadaHealthDistrict, YouTube: www.youtube.com/SNHealthDistrict, and Twitter: www.twitter.com/SNHDinfo. The Health District is available in Spanish on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TuSNHD. Don’t have a Twitter account? Follow the Health District on your phone by texting “follow SNHDinfo” to 40404. Additional information and data can be accessed through the Healthy Southern Nevada website: www.HealthySouthernNevada.org.

 

Feb 28
0

Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican Awards More Than $300,000

By | Awards, Press Releases, Recent Releases

Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican, the community’s only not-for-profit, religiously sponsored hospital system, has made $319,635 in grant awards to five nonprofit collaborations in Henderson and Las Vegas. St. Rose has awarded grants to community programs for more than 20 years.

“St. Rose has been committed to providing quality healthcare and supporting the communities of Henderson and Las Vegas for almost 70 years,” said Brian Brannman, senior vice president of operations, Dignity Health Nevada. “There were multiple needs in southern Nevada this year. Awarding these grants in this fashion will enable us all to continue working toward improving the health and well being of this community.”

Community organization recipients included:

·         $100,000 for Medical Care for the Homeless – Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada and Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada;

·         $100,000 for Healthcare and Navigation Services – Southern NV CHIPs, Clark County Fire, Henderson Fire & Police, Las Vegas Fire, North Las Vegas Fire;

·         $20,000 for Transportation for Home-Bound Seniors – Boulder City Lend a Hand;

·         $45,000 for Expansion of Evidence-Based Programs for Seniors – UNLV OLLI;

·         $54,635 for Implementing Promotoras Program in Nevada – Visión y Compromiso.

To be selected for a grant, an organization or program must meet one or more of the following criteria:

·         Address the greatest health needs of the community;

·         Emphasize prevention to address the underlying cause of health problems;

·         Contribute to a seamless continuum of care;

·         Build upon and mobilize existing services in the community; and

·         Engage diverse community stakeholders in implementation and oversight.

About Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican

As the community’s only not-for-profit, faith-based health system, Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican has been guided by the vision and core values of the Adrian Dominican Sisters for more than 65 years. As the Henderson and Las Vegas communities grow, the three St. Rose Dominican hospitals (the Rose de Lima, Siena and San Martín Campuses) and nearly 4,000 employees will continue the Sisters’ mission of serving people in need. St. Rose Dominican is a member of the 21-state Dignity Health network of nearly 11,000 physicians, 56,000 employees, and more than 300 care centers, including hospitals, urgent and occupational care, imaging centers, home health, and primary care clinics. For more information, visit our website at strosehospitals.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or our Blog. St. Rose is hiring! To apply for an open position, visit our careers website.

Feb 27
0

Montevista Hospital Receives Commitment Award (level 2) from Southwest Alliance for Excellence (SWAE)

By | Awards

LAS VEGAS, NV (February 20, 2017)- Strategic Behavioral Health, LLC and Montevista Hospital are proud to announce that Montevista Hospital was presented with the Commitment Award (level 2) at the recent Southwest Alliance for Excellence (SWAE) 2016 Performance Excellence Program banquet held in Scottsdale, AZ on February 6, 2017.

“The annual Performance Excellence Program recognizes organizations for excellence in quality, performance, and outcomes. The program, modeled after the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, provides not only an opportunity for recognition, but also valuable feedback on where an organization is positioned on the quality continuum. In addition to formal recognition, the SWAE’s multi-tiered process assists organizations in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah along their path to achieving performance excellence, which means being role models in customer and employee satisfaction, sound management, innovation and results.” – SWAE Press Release, December 1, 2016

“We view this as the first step in our journey toward providing the best and most innovative behavioral healthcare in Las Vegas. This commitment is embodied by our employees and staff, who maintain the highest standard of patient care and customer service.” -Charlene Arnett, CEO, Montevista Hospital

Jan 17
0

Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican Wins Consumer Choice Award From National Research Corporation for Fourth Year in a Row

By | Awards, Press Releases, Recent Releases

Siena Campus Ranked Best in Overall Quality, Reputation, Doctors and Nurses

Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican’s Siena Campus was named a 2016/2017 Consumer Choice Award by National Research Corporation. The annual award identifies hospitals across the United States that healthcare consumers choose as having the highest quality and image. The Siena facility is the only hospital in the Las Vegas market to receive this award.

Winners are determined by consumer perceptions on multiple quality and image ratings collected in the company’s Market Insights survey, the largest online consumer healthcare survey in the country. National Research surveys more than 300,000 households in the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia. Hospitals named by consumers are analyzed and ranked based on Core Based Statistical Areas defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, with Consumer Choice-winning facilities being ranked the highest.

“We applaud the efforts of our medical staff and employees,” said Brian Brannman, senior vice president of operations, Dignity Health Nevada. “They work in partnership with our patients, visitors and community, to consistently and constantly improve the safety and quality of the care we provide.”

This year marks the 21th anniversary of the Consumer Choice Award celebrating the power of a strong brand image in healthcare.

“For each of the past 21 years, winning hospitals have provided outstanding experiences that have transcended their four walls to build consumer preference, loyalty, and trust in their markets. We are honored to congratulate this year’s winners on a job well done,” said Brian Wynne, Vice President of Business Development at National Research.

A complete list of winners can be found at http://www.nationalresearch.com/ConsumerChoice.

About National Research Corporation

For 35 years, National Research Corporation (NASDAQ: NRCIA and NRCIB) has been at the forefront of patient- centered care. Today the company’s focus on empowering customer-centric healthcare across the continuum extends patient-centered care to incorporate families, communities, employees, senior housing residents, and other stakeholders. National Research is dedicated to representing the true voice of patients and other healthcare stakeholders. This integration of cross-continuum metrics and analytics uncovers insights for effective performance improvement, quality measurement, care transitions, and many other factors that impact population health management. For more information, call 800-388-4264, write to info@nationalresearch.com, or visit www.nationalresearch.com.

About Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican

As the community’s only not-for-profit, religiously sponsored health system, Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican has been guided by the vision and core values of the Adrian Dominican Sisters for more than 65 years. As the Henderson and Las Vegas communities grow, the three St. Rose Dominican hospitals (the Rose de Lima, Siena and San Martín Campuses) and more than 3,400 employees will continue the Sisters’ mission of serving people in need. St. Rose Dominican is a member of the 21-state Dignity Health network of nearly 11,000 physicians, 56,000 employees, and more than 300 care centers, including hospitals, urgent and occupational care, imaging centers, home health, and primary care clinics. For more information, visit our website at strosehospitals.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or our Blog. St. Rose is hiring! To apply for an open position, visit our careers website.

Sep 30
0

Nevada Hospitals and Nursing Homes Receive HealthInsight Quality Award

By | Awards, Recognition

Annual Recognition Encourages Excellence Through Accountability

Three hospitals and six nursing homes in Nevada were honored Sept. 7 for their high performance in quality care measures and patient satisfaction. 

HealthInsight, a nonprofit, community-based health care collaborative working to improve health and health care for patients and providers, presented the 2016 HealthInsight Quality Award to the recipients at Focus on the Future: Partnering for a Healthier Tomorrow, an inaugural health care conference held at Harveys Convention Center in South Lake Tahoe.

HealthInsight Quality Award hospital recipients are selected based on their performance on inpatient and outpatient process of care measures, a national survey of patients’ experience of hospital care (HCAHPS) and 30-day hospital wide readmissions (HWR). The data is combined into a single weighted composite score. Hospitals at or above the 75th percentile nationally on this combined ranking receive the award.

HealthInsight Quality Award nursing home recipients had to rank in the top 25 percent of performers in the nation, based on MDS 3.0 Quality Measures from Nursing Home Compare, as well as demonstrate a successfully implemented quality improvement program in their facilities.

“We are extremely pleased to be able to recognize these hospitals and nursing homes from across the state for their excellence in performance and commitment to person-centered care,” said Deborah Huber, HealthInsight Nevada’s executive director. “This level of achievement requires strong leadership and a dedication to quality by all members of the health care team.”

The 2016 HealthInsight Quality Award hospital recipients are Mesa View Regional Hospital in Mesquite, Renown South Meadows Medical Center in Reno and Banner Churchill Community Hospital in Fallon.

The nursing home recipients are Highland Manor of Mesquite in Mesquite, Silver Hills Health Care Center and Horizon Health and Rehabilitation Center in Las Vegas, Nevada State Veterans Home in Boulder City, Carson Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Carson City, and Life Care Center of Reno in Reno. 

For more information on how your facility compares to others in the country, visit www.healthinsight.org. More hospital and nursing home quality data is available by visiting www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

About HealthInsight

HealthInsight is a recognized leader in convening and partnering with our communities to improve health and health care by advancing quality, efficiency and value for patients and providers. HealthInsight serves as a catalyst, using collaborative efforts to facilitate and promote the quality and safety of health care to achieve improved outcomes and value for all residents. Learn more at www.healthinsight.org.  

This material was prepared by HealthInsight, the Medicare Quality Innovation Network -Quality Improvement Organization for Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. 11SOW-CORP-16-63-NV