For the last two years, Kaweah Delta Medical Center has garnered nationwide attention as one of Healthgrade America’s best 50 hospitals in the country for cardiac surgery and one of the country’s best 100 hospitals for overall heart care.
The achievement doesn’t come by accident, said CEO Gary Herbst. It comes with persistence, dedication and hard work.
That level of care will only continue to strengthen, officials said.
On Friday, Herbst announced the hospital’s new affiliation with Cleveland Clinic’s Heart & Vascular Institute — the No. 1 ranked heart program in the U.S.
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The affiliation will improve on the work hospital staff has been doing and elevate patient care.
Kaweah Delta and the Cleveland Clinic have been working together since August 2016, said Dr. Suma Thomas, vice-chairman of Strategic Operations at the Cleveland Clinic Heart and Vascular Institute.
“This is an incredibly rewarding day for us and one we have been waiting for for a long time,” Herbst said. “Obviously they are a world class and world-renowned institution. To have our name right next to theirs means an incredible amount to us.”
Kaweah Delta is the second hospital in California to team with the clinic, Herbst said.
While Kaweah Delta will remain independent, the benefits that come along with the affiliation will be great, hospital officials said.
Cleveland Clinic staff will offer onsite guidance and offer feedback to help the Visalia hospital improve its operations and become more efficient. In turn, Kaweah Delta staff will go to the Cleveland Clinic to learn.
Additional benefits include access to new treatments and technologies, opportunities to collaborate with Cleveland Clinic in medical research, sharing of care pathways, quality processes, outcomes data analysis, medical education opportunities and access to products, Herbst said.
“They give us access to some of the finest cardiovascular supplies and products; the very highest in quality and yet at the lowest price because of their reputation and the purchasing power that they garner,” Herbst added. “All of these new resources benefit our community by helping to further elevate the care that patients receive here locally as well as our continuing pursuit of driving down the cost of healthcare.”
Assemblyman Devon Mathis attended Friday’s announcement. He praised the news.
“To be able to have a partnership with Cleveland, as renowned as they are, is just a great step for us,” Mathis said. “It’s very exciting to see these partnerships happen.”
Dr. Harry Lively, chief of staff at Kaweah Delta, said he is proud of the work all hospital staff has done to get to this point, specifically the recent national recognition.
“It’s not easy to achieve but its harder to maintain. Sometimes climbing the mountain is easier than staying on top of the mountain. That’s our goal, to continue to stay on top,” Lively said. “This affiliation will help us achieve that.”
He said he looks forward to what the affiliation will bring.
“We’re excited,” Lively said. “This represents a new dawn in care for our patients and our community moving forward.”
Date: January 28, 2019
Source: Visalia Times Delta