Spring Valley Hospital has achieved certification as a Gluten-Free Food Service program, joining a handful of other hospitals in the United States, including Valley Health System facilities Centennial Hills, Summerlin and Valley hospitals, to achieve this status.

The Food & Nutrition team at Spring Valley Hospital met the rigorous standards and expectations for safety required to achieve this honor. The team is proud to serve delicious meals for any diet preference on a daily basis and this designation portrays their commitment to provide quality food for patients.

The Gluten-Free Food Service (GFFS) audits and validates restaurants and food businesses that serve gluten-free food.  The GFFS validation program is a program of the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), a non-profit organization that has been serving the needs of the gluten-free community for over 45 years.  GIG is on a mission to make life easier for everyone living gluten-free.

Spring Valley Hospital will display the validated Gluten Free Safe Spot logo throughout the hospital to represent the independent verification of quality, integrity, and purity of businesses serving gluten-free food. Validation as a Gluten Free Safe Spot establishes trust with gluten-free patrons in the ability of a facility to provide safe gluten-free food.

Established in 2009, GFFS has held its food service establishments to the highest standards. Consumers recognize locations validated as Gluten Free Safe Spots serve gluten-free food that meets the nonprofit GFFS’s rigorous standards and expectations for safety. GFFS validates participating establishments, from restaurants to college dining, senior living, hospitals and more, by visiting locations in-person to ensure they follow best practices for gluten-free food safety and ensure high-quality staff training.

“I’m very proud of our Food & Nutrition team’s hard work to achieve this gluten-free validation,” said Claude Wise, CEO of Spring Valley Hospital. “We strive to meet the diverse dietary needs of our patients, employees, physicians and visitors, especially those who live a gluten-free lifestyle.”

About Spring Valley Hospital
Spring Valley Hospital is a member of The Valley Health System, a network of acute care and specialty hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, outpatient services and physician offices that provide care for patients throughout Southern Nevada and nearby communities. Located in southwest Las Vegas, the 364-bed hospital offers emergency care, advanced cardiovascular, orthopedic and neurological surgeries and procedures, surgical services, women’s health, comprehensive maternity services, a level III neonatal intensive care unit, and specialty programs in stroke, chest pain, advanced wound care and hyperbaric medicine. The ER at Blue Diamond, a freestanding emergency department, and Valley Health Specialty Hospital, a mixed-use medical facility, are both extensions of Spring Valley Hospital. The hospital opened in October 2003, and is celebrating 20 years of caring for the residents and tourists of Las Vegas and outlying communities.

About the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG)
The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit association funded by private donations, sponsorship opportunities and food safety programs. It relies on tax-deductible contributions to support its many innovative industry, service, social and awareness programs. GIG has been a highly respected leader in the gluten-free community since it was founded in 1974. In addition to more than 90 local support groups across the United States, GIG has increased its presence internationally to 47 countries. GIG empowers the gluten-free community through consumer support, advocacy and education. The Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO), a program of GIG, is a leader in the verification of quality, integrity and purity of gluten-free products. The Gluten-Free Food Service (GFFS) program is a proven model of established best practices for food service facilities offering gluten-free options. GIG is committed to ongoing food safety research to assure customers and consumers the highest level of excellence in its gluten-free programs and services. For information, visit www.gluten.org.