Augusta Health earns Chest Pain Center Accreditation
Augusta Health has received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers, an international not-for-profit organization that focuses on transforming cardiovascular care by assisting facilities in their effort to create communities of excellence that bring together quality, cost and patient satisfaction.
“In order to meet the Chest Pain Center Accreditation requirements, Augusta Health had to meet eight areas of expertise in the care of the cardiac patient. These areas include: the relationship with Emergency Medical Services, timely diagnosis and treatment of patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome, a process improvement program, training and competency of personnel, organizational commitment to providing a high level of cardiac care, facility design and community outreach,” said Donna Hurst, RN, BSN, Chest Pain Center Coordinator at Augusta Health. “The accreditation shows we are fully dedicated to the care of cardiac patients in our communities.” Read more
Augusta Health ‘tops out’ heart and vascular center
Augusta Health ‘topped out’ the steel structure of its new Heart and Vascular Center by raising and installing a final beam filled with signatures and messages from employees and patients.
“Seven months ago, we gathered on this spot to dig down, to break ground for our new Heart and Vascular Center. Today, we reach up with the last beams of the steel structure as this building reaches it full height,” said Rev. John Peterson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Augusta Health. “In this ceremony we recognize the strong foundation and solid framework, not just for this structure, but for all the good work that will be done within it in the years to come.” Read more
Le joins staff at Augusta Health
Dr. Ngoc Le, a family practice physician, has joined Augusta Health Family Practice in Verona. Dr. Le will see patients Tuesday through Friday from 8 am until 4:30 pm.
Augusta Health Family Practice-Verona is located at 1 Green Hills Drive, just off Route 11 in Verona. The clinic phone number is 540.245.7425. Read more
Augusta Health repeats as Top 100 Hospital
Augusta Health was this week named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® by Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of healthcare.
The Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals® study evaluates performance in 10 areas: mortality, medical complications, patient safety, average patient stay, expenses, profitability, patient satisfaction, adherence to clinical standards of care, post-discharge mortality, and readmission rates for heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia. The study has been conducted annually since 1993. This is the fourth time, and second consecutive year, that Augusta Health has been recognized with this honor. Read more
Waynesboro Senior Center to host ‘Love Your Heart’ on April 26
Waynesboro Senior Center, in conjunction with Augusta Health Community Wellness and Augusta Health School of Clinical Laboratory Science, will host “Love Your Heart” a community health fair event on Thursday, April 26 at 9 a.m. at the Senior Center, located at 325 Pine Avenue in Waynesboro.
A lipid profile will be offered to both members and nonmembers of the Senior Center; it will be free for the first 50 people to arrive and $10 for anyone after. The lipid profile uses just one tube of blood to test for high-density lipoprotein (HDL), cholesterol, and triglycerides, which can be used to determine risk for heart disease and stroke. A 9-12 hour fast is recommended but not required. The American Heart Association recommends anyone over the age of 20 be tested every five years, but individuals with other risk factors such as age, family history, high blood pressure, and smoking, should be screened more frequently. Read more
Dispute threatens higher emergency-room fees
Local residents who have health insurance through Anthem BlueCross BlueShield may be subject to out-of-pocket emergency-room fees due to an ongoing spat between the insurance provider and Shenandoah Emergency Medicine Specialists.
Anthem and SEMS, a private-practice group that provides emergency-room medical services at Augusta Health, have not reached agreement on a new contract. If agreement is not reached by May 4, Anthem BlueCross BlueShield customers would have to pay SEMS professional fees out of pocket. Read more
Augusta Health to open Convenient Care Clinic in Crozet
Augusta Health will open a Convenient Care Clinic to handle routine health issues in Crozet on April 30.
Augusta Health Convenient Care Clinic at Old Trail, Crozet, located at 1005 Heathercroft Circle in the Old Trail Village Center, will be open seven days a week and staffed by well-qualified Augusta Health nurse practitioners. Hours will be from 10 am until 6 pm, Monday through Friday, and 10 am until 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Read more
