Gold Level in WVHA Honors Program

December 1, 2021

The West Virginia Hospital Association recognized Boone Memorial Hospital for outstanding work in its Commitment to Excellence Honors Program. For the second, consecutive year, Boone Memorial received the highest level of honor possible, Gold.

The objectives of the Honors Program are to:

Reward successful efforts to develop and promote quality improvement activities
Inspire hospitals to be leaders in improving the health of West Virginians
Raise awareness of nationally accepted standards of care that are proven to enhance patient outcomes

The Honors Program is updated annually to reflect the quality improvement topics on which the WVHA Quality Committee has recommended hospital action in the pursuit of excellence during the program year.

For each topic area, hospitals will be recognized for their engagement and/or implementation of work in that area.

Level 1 Engagement recognizes hospitals that are actively engaged in planning activities and are moving towards implementation. While Level 2 Implementation recognizes hospitals that may include policy modification, new program offering(s), dedicated staff time, staff and patient education, and/or measurement/results.

There are three types of honors awards: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Hospitals must be Level 2-Implementation in all applicable areas (or Level 1 if it is the only level).

Boone Memorial Hospital achieved Level 2 (Implementation) in each of the following 2021 Honors Program Topic Areas, due to the commitment and direction made by the BMH leaders listed below:

Antibiotic Stewardship: Sarah Dotson, PharmD (BMH Pharmacy)
Care Transitions/Boost: Stuard Haugen, RN (Inpatient Nursing Manager) & Gina Moore (Director, Practice Development and Facility Experience)
Emergency Department Information Exchange (EDie): Brian Keith, RN (ER Nursing Manager)
Hospital Quality Improvement Contract (HQIC): Becky Bannister, RN (Director, Infection Prevention, Environmental Services & Clinical Quality)
Influenza Vaccination: Blitz Turner, FNP-BC (Employee Health)
Opioid Stewardship: Janet Newsome, RN, CCM (Case Manager)
Patient and Family Engagement (PFE): Trena Hopkins, MSW, LGSW (Social Services)
Workplace Violence: Ladie Viars, RN (Clinical Nurse Educator)
WVHA Discharge Data Program: Susan Shreve (Director, Revenue Cycle) & Chawndala Tackett, RHIT (HIM Supervisor)

“We are thrilled to receive Gold Honors again this year,” said Chief Nursing Officer and Program Lead, Terri Castle, RN. There is a great deal of work that goes into meeting such high level standards. We applaud the leaders listed. They make patients our top priority and promote quality initiatives daily. They truly are the ones to thank for being recognized and honored.”

The West Virginia Hospital Association (WVHA) is a not-for-profit statewide organization representing 63 hospitals and health systems across the continuum of care. The WVHA supports its members in achieving a strong, healthy West Virginia by providing leadership in healthcare advocacy, education, information and technical assistance, and by being a catalyst for effective change through collaboration, consensus building and a focus on desired outcomes.

Members of the Association believe it is essential, in the interest of West Virginia citizens, to have a strong healthcare system that supports and improves the health status of those people served by our hospitals, as well as the economic condition of the state. The Commitment to Excellence Honors Program (Honors Program) is a way hospitals can be recognized for the outstanding work they do in pursuit of these goals.

“The WVHA is very proud of our Honors Program award winners and the commitment to excellence demonstrated by our member hospitals and health systems in serving West Virginians,” said Jim Kaufman, West Virginia Hospital Association President and CEO, in a news release.

“I’m proud of our leaders for going above and beyond to continually extend quality care to all of our patients,” said Virgil Underwood, Boone Memorial Hospital Chief Executive Officer. “Their level of commitment is commendable and doesn’t go unnoticed.”

For more information about the West Virginia Hospital Association, visit www.wvha.org

For more information about Boone Memorial Hospital, visit www.bmh.org

Pictured Above: (left to right): Ladie Viars, RN (Clinical Nurse Educator); Gina Moore (Director, Practice Development and Facility Experience); Janet Newsome, RN, CCM (Case Manager), Susan Shreve (Director, Revenue Cycle); Blitz Turner, FNP-BC (Employee Health); Chawndala Tackett, RHIT (HIM Supervisor); Virgil Underwood (Chief Executive Officer); Trena Hopkins, MSW, LGSW (Social Services); Terri Castle, RN (Chief Nursing Officer); Stuard Haugen, RN (Inpatient Nursing Manager); Amy Sayre, MD (Chief Medical Officer); Becky Bannister, RN (Director, Infection Prevention, Environmental Services & Clinical Quality); Sarah Dotson, PharmD (BMH Pharmacy); David Mullett, MD (Hospitalist); Brian Keith, RN (ER Nursing Manager)