Capella Health

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Growing from a hospital into a health system
Saint Mary’s: Expanding cardiac and cancer services to better serve the River Valley

Saint Mary’s Regional Health System, based in Russellville, AR, has significantly enhanced the healthcare technology and services available to the River Valley, and remains committed to investing in superior systems, ensuring long-term access to quality care for the communities they serve.

Today the health system is stronger than it’s ever been, from a quality perspective, a financial position and through its physician relationships. The leadership and financial resources invested by Capella Healthcare since 2008 have played a significant role in this success.

“Saint Mary’s is a prime example of the positive results that an affiliation with Capella Healthcare can bring to the community,” said Jerry Mabry, president of Capella Healthcare’s Arkansas Market. “Just a few short years ago, there were no cardiology services in Russellville, but now the hospital has four cardiologists and a very busy cardiology program that has documented saving numerous lives. Investing nearly $3 million in life-saving cardiac technologies, Saint Mary’s completed capital improvements in two state-of-the-art Cardiac Catheterization Labs for diagnostic and interventional cardiovascular and vascular procedures.”

Another one of their most recent major investments is a GE Optima CT660 128-Slice Computed Tomography (CT) scanner at a cost of $1.2 million. Saint Mary’s is the first hospital in the region to offer and fully utilize the powerful, new, revolutionizing non-invasive technology to do procedures such as coronary angiography. The high-speed scanner provides physicians with the ability to see more anatomical detail at a lower radiation dose, in a fraction of the time previously required with conventional CT.

Capella has also invested several million dollars to renew and update cancer treatment services at Saint Mary’s, including an Elekta Synergy linear accelerator system, providing both IGRT and IMRT radiation therapy.

“Saint Mary’s now provides a broader span of services and accelerated levels of treatment that compares to services available in larger metropolitan areas,” Mabry said. “As we look at the next five years, these investments in cancer and cardiology treatment services will speak volumes about the local care that can be available at a community hospital.”

In addition to investments in hospital services, Capella has been very instrumental in addressing physician needs.

A brand new, multi-million dollar replacement facility for Millard-Henry Clinic is now home to 28 clinical practices and is one of Arkansas’ largest clinics, both in terms of staff and facility size.

Dr. Keith Ison said the new clinic initiative came after an intensive, targeted three-year effort that included input from clinic physicians and corporate leadership. The project was a clear investment in the region that provided local jobs in tough economic times.

The three-story, 47,000-square-foot steel structure features a glass, stucco and brick façade with a large portico specifically designed to make drop-off and pick-up easier for patients.

“I think Millard Henry Clinic is unique — one building holding many doctors who treat all stages of life. It just provides comprehensive care for the whole family,” Dr. Christina Bartlett, pediatrician, said.

Since moving into the new building in 2014, physicians report higher quality, enhanced patient satisfaction, and even improved quality of their personal lives, Mabry said, all because they now have a state-of-the-art facility in which to provide care.

Recognized for quality and safety
But it is the staff’s dedication to providing the highest level of care, in concert with these investments in technology and physician recruitment, that has now taken the health system to a new level. Saint Mary’s dedication to quality is validated by consistent recognition from by state and national organizations.

Saint Mary’s has been honored with a number of awards that reflect the hospital’s drive to provide exceptional, technologically advanced care to every patient. They were named a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® in 2014 by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in the United States, for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance for: Heart Attack, Pneumonia and Surgical Care.

Saint Mary’s also earned an ‘A’ grade on the Fall 2014 Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from errors, injuries and infections. The hospital is one of only two hospitals in the state to be recognized with an ‘A’ during this measurement period and has received the award every year since 2012.

And, as part of the hospital’s work with the Hospital Engagement Network (HEN) – a part of the Partnership for Patients created under the Affordable Care Act – Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center is one of only six hospitals in the state and one of 233 hospitals in the nation to meet the national improvement goals and meet reduction goals on 90 percent or more of their applicable topics on national or state aligned measures.

Significant capital investments and dedicated staff have helped Saint Mary’s grow into a nationally recognized health system providing expanded care for the entire River Valley region.