2009 Accomplishments

2009: Building on Mission's Tradition of Quality Care and Community Service: The Year in Review

Amid economic hard times for our region and nation, Mission continued to aim high and accomplish much in 2009 - finding the will and the way to meet ever-increasing community needs. The past year brought expanded services, innovative new partnerships, and growing praise for Mission's quality of care.

• Mission was again recognized as an outstanding performer in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Quality Improvement Demonstration Project. Mission placed in the top 20% of hospitals in treatment of heart attacks, and above average in all other categories measured. That performance earned Mission a $142,000 quality bonus from CMS.
• Mission was named a finalist for the National Quality Forum 2009 National Quality Healthcare Award, placing in the top four among the nation's hospitals. The award program recognizes hospitals for using performance measures to drive quality improvement in patient care.
• Five RNs on Mission's staff were named to the list of North Carolina Great 100 Nurses, an annual recognition honoring the state's best nurses.
• The stroke program at Mission earned a "gold" ranking from the American Heart and Stroke Associations for consistently following guidelines that give patients the best chance of surviving and recovering from a stroke.
• For the third straight year, Asheville's heart surgeons and Mission Hospital have received the top three-star ranking for quality of cardiac surgery from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. This rating is achieved by only 10 percent of hospitals that perform heart surgery.
• Only one percent of U.S. hospitals are fully accredited Chest Pain Centers, and Mission joined that exclusive group in 2009. Mission is the first hospital in the region to earn this accreditation by The Society of Chest Pain Centers.
• Mission's Child Development Center once again received a five-star rating from the NC Division of Child Development.
• The Cancer Program at Mission was granted accreditation with commendation by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.  

• Mission Hospital and its physician leaders were invited by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement to represent Asheville as one of 10 high quality/low cost healthcare communities across the nation spotlighted in a Washington, D.C., symposium.
• Both Mission Hospital and Blue Ridge Regional Hospital were named by Cleverly & Associates to its list of Community Value Five-Star Hospitals. Mission was also recognized as a Best in Value award winner by Data Advantage Corporation.
• Strong financial management earned Mission AA bond ratings from all three major rating agencies: Standard and Poor's, Moody's Investor Service and Fitch.
• The American Hospital Association gave Mission its prestigious NOVA award for innovations in community health. Mission was recognized for the Lighten Up 4 Life community weight loss challenge.
• Mission was named a member of NC Prevention Partner's Health Food Center of Excellence for its commitment to obesity prevention and its promotion of locally grown, healthy foods. McDowell Hospital also earned a Red Apple Award for promoting healthy nutrition.
• The North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition awarded Mission its Golden Bow Award for supporting breastfeeding by not distributing commercial giveways from formula makers to new mothers.
• Mission Hospital delivered 4124 babies in FY 2009; McDowell Hospital 66 babies; and Blue Ridge Regional Hospital, 171 babies.  

• Mission announced plans for a major construction project that will change the landscape of the campus and accommodate future growth. The 14-month project will widen Victoria Road and join it with McDowell Street, creating a new street called Hospital Drive.
• Plans were announced for a new regional cancer center, projected to open in early 2012, which will bring all of Mission's outpatient cancer services into one convenient location off the newly extended Hospital Drive.
• To improve emergency care, Mission implemented a consolidation of all emergency services on the Memorial Campus.
• The Outpatient Infusion Clinic moved into new quarters on Sweeten Creek Road. This service, formerly managed by Advanced Home Care, is now managed directly by Mission Health System and includes a medical oncologist on site.
• A total renovation of the Memorial Campus main lobby was completed and features artwork by local artists. The Volunteer Leadership Team funded the water feature.
• The granite panels that once stood in the old discharge circle on the Memorial Campus became the centerpiece of a new tribute to veterans at Memorial Stadium. 

• Mission was selected as one of 24 sites to be part of Project BOOST (Better Outcomes for Older Adults through Safe Transitions). The project aims to improve discharge planning in order to reduce unnecessary re-hospitalizations.
• Mission implemented a variety of new initiatives aimed at enhancing patient care and patient satisfaction. Families Initiating a Rapid Screening Team (FIRST) focuses on integrating patients and family members into the care process to improve safety. Purposeful Rounding takes a proactive approach to ensuring that patients' key needs are met by rounding at prescribed intervals. Mission also created a new Service Excellence department to focus on building a culture of service to improve patient satisfaction.
• Mission Children's Hospital launched a new pediatric sedation service to provide anesthesia services geared to the specific needs of children.
• The first class of 47 Diabetes Resource Nurses graduated, specially trained to improve the care of patients with diabetes.
• Mission Medical Associates (MMA) began operations October 1 as the newest member of Mission Health System, providing innovative management, IT and support services to physicians and their practices. Asheville Hospitalist Group affiliated with MMA November 1, and Asheville Cardiology Associates announced they have agreed in principle to affiliate by January 1, 2010.
• In 2009, Mission announced that it would embrace the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Standards (CLAS) issued by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Office of Minority Health. The standards are aimed at ensuring culturally sensitive, equitable treatment for all people interacting with the health system.
• Mission Direct was launched in September to make it faster and easier for physicians to refer and transfer patients to Mission. 
• McDowell Hospital received a $345,000 grant to start a three-year preventive dental care program for children five years old and under in McDowell County.  

• Hospitals and Health Networks magazine named Mission to its list of Top 100 "Most Wired" hospitals for the second straight year. The award recognizes hospitals that have invested in information technology to improve connectivity and care.
• Blue Ridge Regional Hospital added the latest high-definition (HD) video imaging technology to its state-of-the-art operating rooms. Its surgical team was recognized by the North Carolina Quality Center for its Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP).
• Mission implemented Positive Patient Identification and an application with hand-held wireless barcode readers for patient specimen gathering. The application is designed to improve accuracy and safety by making sure the right patient is getting the right lab tests and medications.
• To offer a higher level of service, Mission Labs went live with a new call center to field and direct lab inquiries. 
• Mission installed a new secure e-mail encryption system to protect the privacy of patients. The new program safeguards sensitive, confidential information that is sent outside the Mission system.     
• Mission's Emergency Services created and trained staff on Turbo Track, an innovation in emergency care delivery that significantly reduces "door to doctor" time, enabling patients to receive care faster and more efficiently.  

• Mission Healthcare Foundation earned the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance Charity Seal, making it the first Asheville-based charity to achieve this major designation. In addition, the Foundation was named "Outstanding Foundation for 2009" by the WNC Chapter of the Association of Fund Raising Professionals.
• The 19th Annual Chakales Patton Memorial Golf Tournament raised $110,000 for cancer care services.
• The Toe River Project Access initiative of Blue Ridge Regional Hospital surpassed $3 million in donated care to help low-income, uninsured residents of Mitchell and Yancey Counties.
• In February, the Foundation partnered with 99.9 KISS FM to host a radiothon to benefit Mission Children's Hospital. The event raised $94,000 for inpatient and outpatient services. Overall the Foundation raised over $1 million for the children's hospital in FY09.
• The Foundation was recognized by Mission nurses for contributing more than $2 million for nursing continuing education in the last decade.
• A chapter of Kids Against Hunger was launched and packed over 72,000 meals in FY09.
• The Foundation was awarded 27 new grants totaling over $4 million in FY 09, and funded more than $6.1 million in programs and projects at Mission Hospital.
• Mission's 754 volunteers earned $341,212.96 from special sales, the Bean Shops, and the Gift Shops. In all they donated 104,080.73 hours of service.
• The Foundation announced that in 10 years of administering the Employee Emergency Grant Program, designed to help Mission employees through short-term financial crises, more than $630,000 has been given to 566 Mission employees. In the past fiscal year alone, $99,000 was awarded to 72 different employees.  

• Mission provided approximately $71.9 million which includes $19.4 million in charity care for the indigent and uninsured.
• Mission and The UNC School of Medicine announced a partnership that will bring four third-year medical students to Asheville for study with MAHEC and community physicians. The program is a joint effort of Mission, community physicians, MAHEC and the WNC Health Network. It proceeded in spite of the economic climate with initial state funding supplemented by a grant of $50,000 from the Mission Healthcare Foundation.
• In August, Mission Hospital and UNC Health Care signed an affiliation agreement for cancer care and research, with the overall goal of enhancing the quality of care for cancer patients in Western North Carolina. The affiliation will bring access to new therapies and innovative research programs under development at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the NC Cancer Hospital.
• More than 70 Heart Path Cardiac Rehab and Pulmonary Rehab patients and their spouses enjoyed a picnic and a walk at Lake Tomahawk to raise money for patient scholarships. The group raised $1,750 to provide cardiac or pulmonary rehab for patients who are underinsured or on limited incomes.
• The Mission staff donated enough bookbags and school supplies to prepare 210 area children for the school year. The annual Back to School Supply Drive is sponsored by The United Way, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and Children First.
• Mission employees gave generously to the 2009 United Way drive, exceeding their goal and presenting United Way with a check for $590,000. An impressive 312 Mission staffers participated in the annual Day of Caring.
• As the H1N1 pandemic flu spread, Mission formed a Swine Flu Crisis Team to address the many issues associated with the care of patients and protection of our workforce.
• In FY 2009, 30 staff members quit smoking with the help of Mission's Nicotine Dependence Program.
• Mission created the Healthy Weight program for employees, encouraging healthy nutrition, exercise planning and behavior modification. Participants receive professional, personalized coaching and instruction to help them achieve long-term weight reduction and maintenance.