Accreditation, Affiliations & Awards

DHA Alliance Becomes New England Alliance for Health - Name and structure change, but not purpose

The Board of Trustees for the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Alliance (DHA) voted on September 26, 2008 to approve a plan of reorganization that resulted in a change in the group's name and structure, but which will leave unaffected the cooperative working relationship that has been the Alliance's hallmark since it was founded 25 years ago.

DHA was comprised of 11 member organizations in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The plan of reorganization included provisions for a new name - the New England Alliance for Health (NEAH) - a new legal structure, a less complex governance process, and streamlined operating principles. Most importantly, the new entity preserves the vital core services of the former Alliance, including quality improvement, financial planning and benchmarking, materials management and pharmacy services, education and development for professional staff and trustees, collaborative regional health planning, and access to property and casualty insurance.

The changes were prompted by a two-year internal review process to determine the most appropriate operating structure for the future and to address governance issues for DHA as well as its members. The review process highlighted that while DHA members wanted to maintain a wide array of services in a collaborative, non-competitive forum, they also wanted to reduce the complexity of the DHA governance structure, and retain more local autonomy.

DHA officially dissolved on December 31, 2008. The New England Alliance for Health began operations on January 1, 2009.

Members of the New England Alliance for Health include:

• Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Northampton, MA
• Central Vermont Medical Center, Barre, VT
• Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH
• Mt. Ascutney Hospital, Windsor, VT
• New London Hospital, New London, NH
• Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, St. Johnsbury, VT
• Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital, Colebrook, NH
• Valley Regional Hospital, Claremont, NH
• Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of VT and NH
• Weeks Medical Center, Lancaster, NH
• West Central Behavior Health, Lebanon, NH

Joint Commission's Gold Standard of Care

To raise the standard of medical excellence VRH proactively seeks involvement from The Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit organization, recognized worldwide as the leading evaluator of health care quality and safety. To achieve and maintain accreditation, VRH undergoes an extensive unannounced on-site review by a select team of Joint Commission professionals to evaluate our performance in areas that affect patient/resident care. Because these standards are regarded as the most rigorous in the industry, health care organizations, like VRH, that choose to be evaluated, demonstrate a commitment to providing the highest level of quality care to their patients.

As a result, Valley Regional is the only critical access hospital in New Hampshire to be accredited by the Joint Commission.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Valley Regional Hospital has been designated a Critical Access Hospital by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This designation recognizes the valuable role the hospital plays in the community by providing residents access to 24-hour emergency care, primary care, and other critical services.

Congress created the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) program in 1999 as a way to support small, rural hospitals. To be designated CAH, a hospital must have an emergency department, be isolated geographically from other hospitals, and provide necessary services to a community.

Critical access hospitals are reimbursed for the services provided to Medicare recipients on a cost basis, instead of flat rate basis. As a result, the program provides additional financial support to small hospitals to ensure their success. Valley Regional Hospital also submits to regular examinations and evaluations conducted by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the federal agency responsible for administering such health-related programs as Medicare, Medicaid and HIPAA.

VRH attained a deficiency-free patient care survey and subsequent recognition for best overall performance among New Hampshire hospitals.

Compass Award for Patient Satisfaction

In 2003 Valley Regional Hospital's Board of Trustees established a contractual relationship with Press Ganey, the nation's leading evaluator of patient satisfaction. This relationship began an intense scrutiny of how our patients and their family members viewed our care. Over a two-year timeframe, Press Ganey measured satisfaction survey responses from 433 small hospitals around the country, including VRH. During this study period (8/04-8/06), Valley Regional Hospital went from the 59th to the 95th percentile in its overall customer satisfaction rating, which measured response among patients with overnight hospital stays. As a result, Press Ganey awarded Valley Regional Hospital their coveted Compass Award for leading small hospitals across the country in increases in overall inpatient satisfaction. Since this period, VRH has maintained overall scores between the 95th and 99th percentile.

Business of the Year

Every successful business has at least one defining moment of truth...that point in time when a fearless proclamation to revolutionize must override status quo and resistance to change. In 2003 Valley Regional Hospital (VRH) saw its inpatient market share drop to 45 percent from 51 percent in the year 2000. VRH set a goal to build preference and loyalty within the community through service excellence. The CEO of Valley Regional Hospital (VRH) went before the Board of Trustees and stated, "I recognize this plan of action appears unattainable; however, this is where we're going and this is how we are going to achieve it." The bar was set; the proclamation was made.

VRH has now attained a level that is far too uncommon for businesses and non-profits today. The organization and its vision and mission are truly one and the same - to be a model rural community healthcare organization: the provider preferred for its excellence by area residents and physicians; the healthcare employer of choice, and an active participant in community efforts to improve the quality of life in our region. Our mission is to enhance the health of the community we serve.

And along our journey we've been honored with this prestigious award. We thank Business NH Magazine for recognizing the tremendous efforts of our Board of Trustees, Medical Professionals and VRH employees.

New Hampshire Hospital Association

Hospitals in the Granite State have been collaborating in the public interest through the New Hampshire Hospital Association since 1934. Advocacy is the Association's top priority.

The Association's mission is to enhance the clinical and economic performance of hospitals, improve public confidence in hospitals, and expand access to coverage and care for the citizens of New Hampshire.

Valley Regional Hospital collaborates with Association partners and stakeholders through the Foundation for Healthy Communities affiliate to make the healthcare delivery system more efficient, and to improve the processes and outcomes of care.