SYLACAUGA – The Coosa Valley Medical Center has been recognized as a 2013 “Top Performer on Key Quality Measures” by The Joint Commission.

For the second straight year, Coosa Valley Medical Center has been awarded with “Top Performer” recognition by The Joint Commission. Shown (from left) are Amy Price, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer; Karen Varner, director of surgical services; Carla Taylor, division director of post acute services; and Tonya Henderson, divisional director of acute services.

The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 20,500 health care organizations and programs in the United States. The award is offered to health care providers who show excellence in accountability measure performance.

The CVMC is one of only 1,224 hospitals in the U.S. to achieve the distinction in 2013. The hospital was recognized as a top performer in three categories: surgical care, pneumonia and heart failure. It is the second year in a row the hospital has been recognized in those three categories.

Carla Taylor, division director of post acute services at CVMC, said she was pleased to be a part of a hospital that has seen so much success over the past two years.

“I think it demonstrates our commitment to providing excellent care,” Taylor said. “And certainly this recognition provided by The Joint Commission is based on performance on evidence-based processes…. And I think it’s a testament to the clinical delivery of care here, and the commitment of our medical staff.”

To be eligible for the recognition, the CVMC provided data basically ensuring the hospital was providing beyond satisfactory care for surgical, pneumonia and heart failure patients.

A hospital must receive a 95 percent rating of care in the data provided to be recognized as a Top Performer – the CVMC scored 100 percent in each category.

Amy Price, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer at CVMC shared Taylor’s sentiments on the recognition: It is not only a point of pride for the hospital, but an assurance to people in the area that the CVMC is one of the best health care providers in the state.

“It tells our patients we are very competitive, not only on a state level, but a national level,” Price said. “…When you look at the hospitals that are accredited by The Joint Commission, only 36 percent of hospitals are recognized as Top Performers.”

The fact the CVMC is being awarded the same recognition two years in a row is an added bonus for the hospital as well.

Price lauded the efforts of the hospital’s medical staff and leadership, not only for continuing to provide excellent health care, but for remaining diligent and committed to remaining competitive despite repeated success.

“It’s really difficult to sustain that level of performance, once you achieve it,” Price said. “Because you have all the momentum, and the excitement, and the drive to get there. But then the work that it takes to stay there, we’ve learned is a little more difficult than getting there.”

Tonya Henderson, Divisional Director of Acute Services, said much of the same.

“Every morning when I wake up, that’s my goal,” Henderson said. “‘What am I going to contribute to make sure my patients receive good care today?’”