At Wyoming Valley Health Care System, we understand that the quality of patient care is paramount to patients and their loved ones. We also believe that patients should make intelligent choices when it comes to their health care. By knowing how our services compare to those of other hospitals, you can rest assured that you are indeed making the right choice... Quality patient care is found right here at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Wilkes-Barre General Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission which has had a longstanding commitment to providing meaningful information about the comparative performance of accredited organizations to the public. (For our complete Gold Seal of Approval online report from the Joint Commission, click here.)
Wilkes-Barre General Hospital submits core measures data and other performance specific data to the Joint Commission, Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4), as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Wilkes-Barre General Hospital's Core Measures are standards of care and required protocols that have been established regarding specific clinical treatment options for congestive heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, pneumonia and a surgical care improvement project. Quality measures are "best practices" guidelines for care of these conditions. Measuring the success of care and how well a hospital follows these guidelines enables a more scientific-based, "apples to apples" comparison of different hospitals on a national basis.
We measure our quality of care based upon our core measures performance. And now patients can look in national registries to determine how hospitals across the nation compare.
For a link to a Quality Measures glossary, which defines many of the quality-related terms, please click here.
The Hospital Compare website was created through the efforts of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), along with the Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA). Hospital Compare displays rates for Process of Care measures that show how often hospitals provide some of the care that is recommended for patients being treated for a heart attack, heart failure or pneumonia, or patients having surgery. Hospitals voluntarily submit data from their medical records about the treatments their adult patients receive for these conditions, including patients with Medicare and those who do not have Medicare.
To see how Wilkes-Barre General Hospital measures against other state and national hospitals, we have conveniently provided our latest quarterly Hospital Compare Quality Report
Proof of our dedication to patient quality is also represented via our recent designation as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care. Developed through a partnership of The Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, the Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care are designated facilities within participating Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan service areas that meet stringent quality criteria as established by expert physician panels and national organizations. By meeting these requirements, the Centers demonstrate better outcomes and consistency of care.
Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care provide a full range of cardiac care services, including inpatient cardiac care, cardiac rehabilitation, cardiac catheterization (included percutaneous coronary interventions) and cardiac surgery (including coronary artery bypass graft surgery). Institutions that are a part of the program are also subject to periodic re-evaluation as criteria continue to evolve.
Wilkes-Barre General Hospital voluntarily participates in a formal patient satisfaction process with Press Ganey, a national leader in health care performance measurement and improvement. For more information about how our patients rate our care, please click here.
For additional information on how Wilkes-Barre General Hospital measures against other regional and Pennsylvania hospitals, please visit the links below:
As a non-profit community-based hospital, Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and its parent corporation Wyoming Valley Health Care System provide a significant amount of charity care to members of the community.
In fiscal year 2007, Wyoming Valley Health Care System provided $11.9 million in a combination of charity care and care for which payment was not received and/or payment did not cover the actual costs of treatment.
- Ace or ARB for LVSD
Medications used in patients who have had a heart attack and have decreased heart pumping action. This prevents further weakening. - Aspirin at Arrival
Aspirin can help keep blood clots from forming and dissolve blood clots that can cause heart attacks. - Aspirin at Discharge
Provides long term quality care in heart attack patients. Aspirin on a daily basis has shown to prevent further heart attacks. - Beta Blocker at Arrival
During a heart attack the heart beats faster to compensate for weakening pumping action, which puts more strain on the heart. Beta Blockers reduces the hearts tendency to beat faster. - Beta Blocker at Discharge
Provides long-term quality care in heart attack patients by enhancing the hearts pumping ability. - PCI within 90 Minutes of Arrival
A procedure called Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCI) is effective for opening blocked blood vessels that cause heart attacks. - Smoking Cessation/Counseling Provided
Smoking is linked to heart attacks. Quitting may help prevent another heart attack.
- Assessment of Left Ventricular Function
A test to determine if the left ventricle, or lower left chamber of the heart is functioning correctly. - Ace or ARB for LVSD
A drug used to prevent further weakening of the heart in patients who already have heart failure. - Discharge Instructions
Education given by the physician and/or hospital staff on activity level, diet, discharge medications, follow-up appointment, weight monitoring and what to do if symptoms worsen. - Smoking Cessation/Counseling Provided
Smoking is linked to heart failure. Quitting may help improve your condition.
- Oxygen Assessment
Treatment of pneumonia includes maintaining proper oxygen levels. - Blood Cultures in the ED Before Giving the Initial Antibiotic
Blood tests need to be taken before the first antibiotic is given to ensure that the correct medication is being given. - Initial Antibiotic Given Within 6 Hours of Arrival
Timely use of antibiotics can improve the treatment of pneumonia caused by bacteria. - Appropriate Antibiotics in the ICU Patients
Antibiotics treat infection, and each one is different. Hospitals need to pick the antibiotic that best treats the infection type for each pneumonia patient. - Appropriate Antibiotics in Non-ICU Patients
Antibiotics treat infection, and each one is different. Hospitals need to pick the antibiotic that best treats the infection type for each pneumonia patient. - Pneumonia Vaccine Given
A pneumonia shot can help prevent pneumonia in the future, even for patients who have been hospitalized for pneumonia. - Influenza Vaccine Given
An influenza shot can help prevent Influenza in the future, even for patients who have been hospitalized for pneumonia. - Smoking Cessation/Counseling Given
Smoking has been linked to pneumonia. Quitting could prevent you from getting pneumonia again and improving your over all health status.
- Preventative Antibiotic Given Within One Hour of Incision.
Getting an antibiotic within one hour before surgery reduces the risk of wound infections. - Appropriate Antibiotic Selection
Certain antibiotics are recommended to help prevent wound infection for particular types of surgery. - Appropriate Antibiotic Discontinued Within 24 Hours After End Time of
Surgery
It is important for hospitals to stop giving preventative antibiotics within 24 hours after surgery to avoid side effects and other problems associated with antibiotic use. - VTE Ordered
The physician must order medication to prevent the formation of blood clots after surgery. - VTE Given
The hospital staff must administer the medication as ordered.