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VICTORVILLE — Desert Valley Hospital received another national honor
on Wednesday, this one from Healthgrades. The Denver-based company reviews
hospitals, doctors and health care providers and makes that information
available to consumers via its website.
Staff held a ceremony at noon Wednesday to reveal Desert Valley was the
only hospital in San Bernardino County to receive the Healthgrades 2015
Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence.
"If all the hospitals in the country were at Desert Valley Hospital's
level, more than 163,000 lives could have been saved," Healthgrades
Maggie Foley said in presenting the award to Desert Valley Hospital founder
and Prime Healthcare CEO Dr. Prem Reddy. "Seven hospitals in San
Bernardino County were eligible for this designation, but only Desert
Valley Hospital earned it."
Foley said Healthgrades' clinical analysis found Desert Valley Hospital
ranked in the top 5 percent nationally in 21 of 32 categories. Medicare
patient data from 2011-13 was used for the analysis, specifically focusing
on outcomes in terms of mortality rates and complication rates, Foley said.
Healthgrades ratings are from one to five stars, with five being best.
Foley said Desert Valley earned five stars in 11 categories, and had no
categories of one star. "Maybe 10 percent of the hospitals in the
nation can say that," she said.
"This is not achieved by accident, and we commend Desert Valley Hospital
for achieving it through its commitment to its core values," Foley
said. "This recognition is validation of the effort and focus that
Desert Valley's dedicated teams and staff have given to their mission
of endeavoring to provide comprehensive, quality healthcare in a convenient,
compassionate and cost effective manner."
"The praise goes to the employees, nurses, doctors and the governing
board," Dr. Reddy said. "It's not one person's work."
"I'm grateful and proud to be part of this team," Desert
Valley CEO Fred Hunter said.
Desert Valley has been named one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation
five times by Thomson Reuters and among the top 10 hospitals in the state
by PacifiCare's Quality Index, Dr. Reddy said.
"That is pretty unique," he said. "But of course this is
equally good."
Dr. Reddy revealed his Prime Healthcare Services, which has 38 hospitals
in 11 states, will be adding four more hospitals by early January.
Victorville City Councilman Ryan McEachron and Curtis Green, field representative
for 1st District Supervisor Robert Lovingood, also had high praise for
Dr. Reddy and the team at Desert Valley Hospital.
"It's a tremendous honor and well-deserved acknowledgement of
hard work," McEachron said.
"Dr. Reddy, your name is synonomous with excellence not only in the
High Desert, but across the country," Green said. "We're
proud to call you one of our own."