North Vista Hospital Five-Star Rated: Study
HealthGrades study finds patient outcomes at North Vista Hospital among nation’s best for joint replacement, total knee replacement and hip fracture repair

LAS VEGAS (October 15, 2007) -- According to the Tenth Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study issued today, North Vista Hospital is five-star rated for joint replacement, total knee replacement and hip fracture repair.The study, the largest of its kind, analyzed patient outcomes at virtually all of the nation's 5,000 hospitals over the years 2004, 2005 and 2006.

The study also found that North Vista Hospital is:

• Ranked Best (#1) in NV for Joint Replacement
• Only Hospital in Nevada to be Five-Star Rated for Joint Replacement
• Only Hospital in Nevada to be Five-Star Rated for Total Knee Replacement Surgery

“We are delighted to receive these ratings from HealthGrades regarding our joint replacement program for the second year in a row,” said Tony Marinello, Chief Executive Officer at North Vista Hospital. “We are aware that our patients are becoming increasingly educated on quality issues and choices and appreciate being able to point to this independent study to show the excellent quality of care we are providing at North Vista Hospital.”

The Tenth Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study identifies key trends in the quality of care provided by approximately 5,000 hospitals nationwide. HealthGrades researchers analyzed Medicare discharges from virtually every U.S. hospital between 2004 and 2006. Risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates were calculated and hospitals were assigned a 1-star (poor), 3-star (as expected), or 5-star (best) quality rating for 28 diagnoses and procedures from heart failure to hip replacement to pneumonia.

Based on the study, HealthGrades today made available its 2008 quality ratings for virtually every hospital in the country at www.healthgrades.com, a Web site designed to help individuals research and compare local healthcare providers.

“Our research shows that while the overall quality of hospital care in America is improving, the gap between the best-performing hospitals and the worst persists,” said Dr. Samantha Collier, HealthGrades’ chief medical officer and author of the study. “This persistent gap makes it imperative that anyone planning to be admitted to a hospital do their homework and seek out highly rated facilities.”

Among the study’s key findings:

• Gaps persist between the “best” and the “worst” hospitals across all procedures and conditions studied. Five-star rated hospitals, had statistically significantly lower risk-adjusted mortality across all three years studied.
• Across all procedures and conditions studied, there was an approximate 71 percent lower chance of dying in a 5-star rated hospital compared to a 1-star rated hospital.
• Across all procedures and conditions studied, there was an approximate 52 percent lower chance of dying in a 5-star rated hospital compared to the U.S. hospital average.

The 2008 HealthGrades ratings for all hospitals nationwide are available, free of charge, on the organization’s award-winning consumer Web site, located at www.healthgrades.com.  More than three million individuals and employees of some of the nation’s largest employers and health plans visit HealthGrades each month to access quality information about hospitals, nursing homes and physicians. HealthGrades also provides consumers and payers with detailed assessments of hospitals’ patient-safety outcomes, based on indicators developed by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

North Vista Hospital’s Clinical Excellence Recognized in Initial Bariatric Surgery Study
Hospital Receives Numerous Accolades for Quality in Surgical Weight Loss Services
Top 5% in nation ~ #1 in Nevada ~ Five-star rating for clinical excellence

North Las Vegas, Nev. (November 13, 2006 – North Vista Hospital announced today that it has been ranked number one in Nevada and rated five-stars for clinical excellence in bariatric surgery from HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings organization. North Vista Hospital is the only hospital in the state of Nevada to receive a five-star rating for bariatric surgery. Additionally, the hospital received HealthGrades 2007 Bariatric Surgery Excellence Award™. In the First Annual HealthGrades Bariatric Surgery Trends in American Hospitals Study, North Vista Hospital ranked in the top five percent in the nation for bariatric surgery, which includes laparoscopic gastric bypass and banding procedures.

"We are extremely proud to be recognized for providing clinical excellence to our bariatric weight loss surgery patients," said Tony Marinello, the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer. "It is important because it allows patients to know that we have a program with a demonstrated track record of excellence right here in their own community.”

The hospital performs approximately 300 surgeries annually. Its program is designed to help patients lose weight and keep it off. The program’s goal is to go beyond surgery by providing a life-changing program that includes nutritional guidance, support groups and coordination of counseling services. The program is affiliated with experienced, board-certified surgeons who specialize in the surgical treatment of morbidly obese patients. Two kinds of laparoscopic procedures are offered: the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and gastric banding.

In addition to today’s recognition HealthGrades also recognized NVH for clinical quality in two other service lines earlier this year: maternity services received a five-star rating in May 2006 and joint replacement services received a five-star rating and ranked best in Nevada in October 2006.

The HealthGrades Bariatric study analyzed the outcomes of 86,560 patients in hospitals in 17 states over the years 2002, 2003 and 2004. Hospitals whose lower complication rates resulted in a five-star rating from HealthGrades had, on average, twice the number of procedures during the three-year period of the study than one-star rated hospitals. The length of an average hospital stay was 18 percent shorter for five-star hospitals than one-star hospitals. Average mortality rates were low across the board, but were significantly lower in five-star hospitals as compared to all other hospitals.

According to the study, large quality gaps existed between the “best” and the “worst” hospitals across most bariatric procedures studied. North Vista Hospital is one of 71 hospitals nationally to receive a five-star rating from HealthGrades. If all hospitals performed at a five-star level 3,252 patients could have avoided one or more in hospital complications.

For its 2007 bariatric surgery ratings, HealthGrades independently analyzed the quality of care at hospitals in the 17 states that publish outcomes data, objectively assessing their clinical performance and quality. HealthGrades risk-adjusted the data to account for hospitals with differing patient populations. Hospitals with risk-adjusted complication rates in the lowest 15 percent received a five-star rating. The 70 percent of hospitals with complication rates that were as expected received a three-star rating, and hospitals with complication rates in the highest 15 percent received a one-star rating.

“The central finding of HealthGrades Bariatric Surgery Trends in American Hospitals Study is that the quality of bariatric surgery varies widely from hospital to hospital,” explained Samantha Collier, M.D., HealthGrades’ vice president of medical affairs. “But it’s important that people know that North Vista Hospital had among the lowest complication rates in the nation for bariatric surgery, and area residents should take comfort in knowing that,” Collier added.

HealthGrades’ bariatric surgery ratings are published, free of charge, on the HealthGrades consumer Web site, www.healthgrades.com. Ratings for 28 other medical procedures and diagnoses – including cardiac, pulmonary, vascular, stroke, orthopedics, critical care, and gastrointestinal procedures and treatments – are also available on the HealthGrades web site.

NORTH VISTA HOSPITAL EARNS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
Designated with a National Award for Bariatric Surgery

February 2, 2006 – NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV – North Vista Hospital (NVH) has been named an American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) Center of Excellence by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), an organization dedicated to pursuing surgical excellence in the delivery of bariatric surgical care. The hospital’s Nevada Surgical Weight Loss Center program received a full, three-year approval.

The award is peer reviewed by the most competent doctors in the industry and the hospital receives the designation in collaboration with bariatric surgeons, James Atkinson, MD; Daniel Cottam, MD; and Barry Fisher, MD.

"We are extremely proud of this designation," said Tony Marinello, chief executive officer of NVH. "It is important because it allows patients to know that we have a program with a demonstrated track record of excellence. We are honored to work with the surgeons of the Surgical Weight Control Center."

Becoming a Designee
To earn a Center of Excellence designation, North Vista’s bariatric program underwent a site inspection from the SRC during which all aspects of the program’s surgical processes were closely examined and data on health outcomes was collected. North Vista Hospital and other centers receiving the Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence designation agree to continue to share information with the ASBS on clinical pathways, protocols and outcomes. To be eligible for ASBS designation, hospitals must perform at least 125 bariatric surgeries annually, and individual surgeons must do at least 50 surgeries a year.

Why the Designation Was Created
Bariatric surgery is a complex and challenging undertaking. Many of the patients, who are typically afflicted with serious co-morbidities in addition to the burdens of excessive weight, present sharply increased surgical risks. Psycho-social challenges and the uncontrolled complications of morbid obesity require highly competent and compassionate support. Furniture, hospital equipment, instruments and imaging resources must be suitable for massive patients who often exceed their ideal body weight by 100 pounds or more. Especially important is a well-trained staff, capable of dealing with the physical and emotional demands of the morbidly obese.

Faced with these issues, the ASBS identified the need to recognize the centers that perform well and to help surgeons and hospitals reach optimal levels of performance. The program was created to recognize bariatric surgery centers, while helping hospitals and surgeons continue to improve the quality and safety of care provided.

“We are pleased that the medical community is recognizing hospitals that excel in surgical weight loss,” said Marinello. “The number of weight loss surgeries increases each year, and we believe individuals choosing weight loss surgery should have information about the programs they are considering as well as affordable access to these procedures. Our designation reaffirms our commitment to providing quality care and services to our patients.”

Obesity in America
According to the SRC, obesity is America’s most serious health epidemic. Over two thirds of US citizens are overweight; a frightening statistic that continues to increase each year. Of even greater concern, over 23 million Americans are morbidly obese, which means that they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 35, exceeding their ideal body weight by at least 100 pounds. One third of these, a population equal to that of North Carolina, attain BMI’s greater than 40.

Those afflicted by these severe forms of obesity are not only burdened by their bulk, they are also confronted with life-threatening diseases that may include diabetes, hypertension and severe pulmonary compromise. Morbid obesity is closely correlated with a number of serious conditions that severely undermine the health of overweight patients, including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the number of US bariatric surgeries more than quadrupled between 1998 and 2002 – from 13,386 to 71,733. Bariatric surgery helps many people who are morbidly obese lose weight when all other methods have failed.

About Our Program
The Nevada Surgical Weight Loss Center performs approximately 300 surgeries annually. Its program is designed to help patients lose weight and keep it off. The program’s goal is to go beyond surgery by providing a life-changing program that includes nutritional guidance, support groups and coordination of counseling services.

The program is affiliated with experienced, board-certified surgeons who specialize in the surgical treatment of morbidly obese patients. Two kinds of laparoscopic procedures are offered: the Lap Band and the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

NORTH VISTA HOSPITAL WELCOMES NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

June 23, 2005 – Executives for IASIS Healthcare Corporation? announced that Tony Marinello has assumed the Chief Executive Officer role for North Vista Hospital. Marinello was selected for his knowledge of the Las Vegas community and extensive experience in the healthcare field.

"We are very pleased that Tony agreed to take on this leadership role at North Vista Hospital,” said IASIS Healthcare’s Nevada Market President, Jim McKinney. "His more than 25 years of experience will surely benefit the hospital as it continues its mission of serving the community by implementing the latest technology in a highly professional and caring manner.”

Marinello comes to NVH from UHS' Valley Health System where he served as the Assistant Administrator for Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center. Marinello facilitated numerous special projects during his two years at the local hospital. He oversaw the opening of their Long Term Acute Care Center in a partnership with Kindred Hospital, and he implemented the hospital’s bariatric surgery program, which opened in Fall 2004.

Prior to working with Desert Springs Hospital, Marinello had many successful years at NVH during the hospital’s Lake Mead Hospital Medical Center years. Starting as a medical technologist, he worked his way through various leadership positions with the hospital, including Laboratory Manager and Ancillary Director. Eventually he was appointed as the Associate Administrator, serving from 1999 – 2003.

Marinello has extensive experience in physician relations, community outreach, business development, joint ventures, electronic commerce, managed care and marketing.

A member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Marinello has a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. He started his undergraduate studies while serving four years in the Air Force. It was during this time that Marinello developed an interest in healthcare and started his career as a medical technician in the military. He later completed his bachelor’s degree in Science, with a concentration in business administration from University of Phoenix.

North Vista Hospital is a 185-bed community hospital in North Las Vegas serving the greater Las Vegas Valley for over 45 years. The hospital is part of IASIS Healthcare Corporation and is located at 1409 East Lake Mead Boulevard in North Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information on the hospital, visit our new website at www.northvistahospital.com. or call 649-7711.

NORTH VISTA HOSPITAL OPENS 22 ADDITIONAL BEDS IN GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY UNIT

March 1, 2005 – For many older adults, behavioral health problems, including depression, anxiety, memory loss and confusion are symptoms of emotional and physical illness that can be effectively treated through psychiatric interventions.

Today, North Vista Hospital opened 22 additional geriatric psychiatry beds to further serve the Las Vegas Valley senior population. The Gero Psych program at NVH is the only one of its kind in our community, which is now more than double the original size with a total of 40 beds.

“North Vista Hospital’s program is an acute, short-term program for people aged 55 years and older in need of secure, therapeutic environment 24 hours a day,” said Dr. Kevin Bernstein, the program’s medical director.

Individuals admitted to the inpatient service have an acute primary psychiatric diagnosis and exhibit severe symptoms, which can include one or more of the following:

• Suicidal behavior and/or threats
• Abusive behavior
• Depression/confusion
• Sleep or eating disturbances
• Severe agitation/aggressiveness
• Medication complication

“Our program is designed to return individuals quickly to their optimal level of functioning outside the hospital through an intensive and structured, physician-supervised plan,” said Jane Todd, program coordinator. “Our experienced interdisciplinary team, led by the Medical Director, includes psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, psychologists and licensed clinical social workers along with recreation and activity therapists.”

Referrals to the NVH program are available 24-hours a day, seven days a week. They can be made by a psychiatrist, personal physician, hospital, mental health professional/agency, family member, concerned friend or by self admission. The clinical team will assess the needs of the individual and recommend the appropriate level of care. Mobile assessments may also be provided for nursing homes and home health agencies. To contact the NVH Gero Psych program for referrals, call 657-5754.

North Vista Hospital is a 198-bed community hospital in North Las Vegas serving the greater Las Vegas Valley for over 45 years. The hospital is part of IASIS Healthcare Corporation and is located at 1409 East Lake Mead Boulevard in North Las Vegas. For more information on the hospital, visit them online at www.northvistahospital.com.

NORTH VISTA HOSPITAL SCANNING FOR PATIENT SAFETY

Bar Code Scanning Reduces the Possibility of Medication Errors

February 15, 2005 – The same technology that assures the right price at a grocery checkout lane, is now helping to assure the patients at North Vista Hospital get the right medicines at the right time.

The hospital is using bar codes – on medications and on patients – to reduce the risk of a medication mistake.

“Every time we give a patient a medication, we scan a bar code on the medication, then we scan a bar code on the patient’s hospital wristband,” said Punch Fermin, chief nursing officer at North Vista Hospital. “The system checks to be sure everything is right – that it is the right medicine, in the right dose, being given to the right patient, at the right time, in the right way, and if not, a warning screen comes on alerting the nurse to stop.”

The bar code scanning system actually starts to work even before the medication reaches a patient’s room. When the prescription is entered, the system checks to make sure the patient is not allergic to the drug and that it won’t cause problems with other medications.

Once the prescription is entered into the system, each individual dose of medicine is individually packaged and the bar code is applied.

The hospital will administer about 60,000 bar coded medications per month.

“That’s nearly three quarters of million medications given to our patients every year. That’s a lot of opportunities to get it wrong, but with this technology, we are committed to getting it right – every time,” said David Rowlands, the hospital’s pharmacy director.

The system not only checks medication accuracy at the time the drug is administered, it also alerts nurses when a medication is about to be missed. And, it automatically charges the medication to the patient’s bill, to ensure that patients are charged accurately for the drugs they receive.

“Previously, drugs were charged as soon as the prescription was filled, and if the entire prescription wasn’t used, the charges had to be credited back. This is a more efficient system,” said Joann Zeason, the business office director at North Vista Hospital.

“At first, some of the nurses wondered if this would actually create another layer of work,” said Sue Schultz, R.N., Director of the medical/surgical department at North Vista Hospital. “But in fact, we’re all so used to how bar codes work because we shop with them, that it was very easy to learn. Administering medications safely to our patients is a constant concern. We see this as one more process that helps us to ensure patient safety.”

A major study in 1999 from the Institute of Medicine revealed that medical errors killed up to 98,000 people every year. Hospitals that have added bar code scanning as part of the medication administration process report reductions in medication errors.

“If we can prevent one mistake, then it’s worth it,” said Fermin. “Our commitment to technology that improves the clinical process is really a commitment to our patients – to make their care as safe as possible.”

North Vista Hospital is a 198-bed community hospital in North Las Vegas serving the greater Las Vegas Valley for over 45 years. The hospital is part of IASIS Healthcare Corporation and is located at 1409 East Lake Mead Boulevard in North Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information on the hospital, visit them online at www.northvistahospital.com or call 649-7711.

NORTH VISTA HOSPITAL ENDS PAPER TRAIL WITH COMPUTERIZED PATIENT RECORDS

Nurses Use Computers to Bring Technology to the Patient Bedside
and Doctors Use Computers to Stay Connected to Their Patients 24/7

December 7, 2004 – At North Vista Hospital, nurses are pushing a new equipment cart around. On it, sits a computer that contains vital information about patients in the hospital.

“We’re using rolling computers at the bedside to input vital signs and patient assessments and to view test results” said Punch Fermin, chief nursing officer at North Vista Hospital. “With the computers, our nurses can work through the so-called paperwork faster than before – and they can do it without having to use paper at all.”

By replacing paper with computerized patient records, nurses can be more efficient at patient charting which means they have more time for direct patient care.

Electronic documentation of patient records has many benefits. As information is added to the patient’s file, the computerized record becomes instantaneously available to all of the people responsible for a patient’s care and treatment. It means a nurse can be entering a patient’s clinical data on the computer at the patient’s bedside, while a physician is viewing that up-to-the-minute information from his office across the street.

“It connects all of us to the patient simultaneously. We can all see the same information, at the same time, and in real-time, even though we might be in different places. There’s no more fighting over one medical record or guessing about who has the chart,” says Brenda Greer, Medical/Surgical Nurse Manager.

Using secured Internet access, physicians can log-on to the hospital system from anywhere, anytime, and view the latest information about their patients.

“It helps our physicians stay connected to their patients even when they can’t be at the hospital,” said Fermin. “Physicians can check on patients from their office during the day or from home in the evening.”

The electronic documentation system can also pull important information directly from medical devices, such as ventilators and cardiac monitors, and add that information right into the patient’s record. It can create “to do” lists that allow nurses to review every step of a patient’s care, such as medications and IVs, to ensure no task is inadvertently forgotten. It can issue alerts that new information has been added to the patient’s file or to signal a development that requires a nurse’s attention.”

Having quick, easy access to relevant information through a computerized patient record should also lead to better customer service and a higher level of patient satisfaction.

“Everything you need to know about the patient is right in front of you. If a patient has a diagnostic test, as soon as the test result is in, we have it,” said Fermin. “We don’t have to wait for someone to walk from the imaging department to the station. Patients are impressed by that because they like to know we have their up-to-date information. It helps build trust. And because that information is available we can get an accurate view of how a patient is progressing. This will lead to higher quality, more efficient and better coordinated care for all of our patients.”

IASIS Healthcare, which owns North Vista Hospital, has made a $40 million commitment to add advanced clinical technology to all its hospitals. In February, North Vista Hospital will also add a bar-code scanning system to match patients with their medications.

“We’re very proud of the steps we’re taking to become a high-tech hospital with the tools physicians and nurses need to deliver excellent healthcare,” said Jim McKinney, interim chief executive officer at North Vista Hospital. “And, we’re combining this technology with a caring, compassionate approach to how we treat our patients. That’s good for everyone.”

North Vista Hospital is a 198-bed community hospital in North Las Vegas serving the greater Las Vegas Valley for over 45 years. The hospital is part of IASIS Healthcare Corporation and is located at 1409 East Lake Mead Boulevard in North Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information on the hospital, visit our new website at www.NorthVistaHospital.com or call 649-7711.

IASIS HEALTHCARE TO INVEST $13 MILLION IN NORTH VISTA HOSPITAL

NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV, February 3, 2004 – The new owner of North Vista Hospital has announced an investment of more than $13 million of capital into the facility, expanding services and equipping the hospital with modern technology.

The investment is part of a long-term strategic plan by IASIS Healthcare Corporation for North Vista Hospital to focus on providing vital acute-care services to the community.

Highlights of the capital investment include:

• Expansion, renovation and upgrade of the ambulatory surgery department
• Expansion of obstetric services
• New Cardiac Catheterization Lab
• New Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• New CT Scan
• Two new Ultrasound Machines
• New surgical instrumentation and equipment
• Interior cosmetic building improvements

“These initial investments will enable North Vista Hospital to expand the scope of its services and to care for more individuals needing acute medical attention,” said Craig Preston, the new chief executive officer of North Vista Hospital. “The new technology will touch nearly every corner of the hospital, enabling us to provide a higher level of service, both in terms of treating people faster and with an even higher quality of care.”

Some of the new equipment, including the new MRI, has already been ordered and will arrive at the hospital this week. Additional equipment is expected arrive soon and facility renovations and expansions will begin in the next several weeks.

Under its new ownership, the hospital is also reviewing charges for the services it provides and expects to make a room rate reduction of at least 30%.

North Vista Hospital is a 198-bed community hospital in North Las Vegas serving the greater Las Vegas Valley for over 45 years. The hospital is part of IASIS Healthcare and is located at 1409 East Lake Mead Boulevard in North Las Vegas, Nevada 89030.