Catawba County's First COVID-19 Vaccinations Take Place at CVMC

Today, Tuesday, December 15, was a very exciting day at Catawba Valley Health System. As one of the first 11 recipients of the vaccine in North Carolina, we received our initial shipment of vaccines for COVID-19 at 9:14 am today following months of preparation. And we are proud to announce that just after 2 p.m., we vaccinated the first six people in Catawba County: Courtney Casey, a Registered ...

CVMC Earns Ninth Consecutive 'A' Grade for Patient Safety in Fall 2020

HICKORY, NC – Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) was awarded an ‘A’ from The Leapfrog Group ’s Fall 2020 Hospital Safety Grade. The designation recognizes CVMC’s efforts in protecting patients from harm and meeting the highest safety standards in the United States. Over 2,600 hospitals nationally were evaluated by The Leapfrog Group, and CVMC earned its ninth ...

New UV Light Sanitizers Revolutionize Fight Against COVID-19 At CVMC

HICKORY, NC – In a continued effort to provide the safest care possible during the current pandemic, Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) recently added two state-of-the-art UVDI-360 Room Sanitizers. These portable ultraviolet light devices can disinfect an average hospital room in less than 10 minutes. When combined with conventional cleaning methods, the UVDI-360 Room Sanitizer can ...

CVMC Eases Visitation Restrictions

Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) is easing some of its visitor restrictions, initially put in place at the end of March to help protect the safety of patients and staff from the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Effective Tuesday, June 9 th, CVMC will allow one designated support person to visit a patient admitted to the hospital or to accompany a patient seeking treatment at the hospital. ...

CEO, Chief of the Medical Staff Reassure Community

May 29, 2020 Catawba Valley Health System entered the fight against COVID-19 in early March. We have seen our organization, our community, our state and our world be transformed since then. At our hospital, we implemented unprecedented changes in response to the pandemic in order to keep our staff and our patients safe. The work done by those on the front lines and in support of these efforts has ...

CVMC Earns Eighth Consecutive 'A' Grade for Patient Safety in Spring 2020

HICKORY, NC – Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) was awarded an ‘A’ from The Leapfrog Group ’s Spring 2020 Hospital Safety Grade. The designation recognizes CVMC’s efforts in protecting patients from harm and meeting the highest safety standards in the United States. CVMC was the only hospital within the Catawba, Iredell, Burke, Caldwell, and Alexander region of ...

Collaboration and Innovation During COVID-19 Crisis

With the onset of COVID-19, health care systems across the country began assessing readiness in the event of a surge of COVID-19 patients. Catawba Valley Health System (CVHS) in Catawba County, North Carolina, was no different. The CVHS Director of Emergency Management & Environmental Compliance, Mike Helton, reviewed the hospital’s reserve inventory of personal protective equipment ...

Bob Finds The Strength to Battle Cancer

Bob’s goals became a little different after he retired from a long, challenging career in furniture and sales. He became more involved in his church, started reading more books and began helping children learn to read. In 2017, his decision to visit Israel that would change his life forever, exploring biblical history and being exposed to vastly different cultures a world away. Bob returned ...

Brooke's Beautiful Journey to Motherhood

As the oldest girl among four children and 16 grandchildren, Brooke Wilcox spent most of her life taking care of kids. At age 20, she and her husband John decided to have a child of their own and sought the help of a midwife at Catawba Valley Medical Center Maternity Services. She had heard good things about the care available there and she liked the idea of experiencing childbirth as naturally as ...

Be Prepared for Allergy Season

Y ou can feel it in the air as the seasons are beginning to change. Spring is coming and everyone seems ready for warmer weather. Well, everyone except for allergy sufferers – and for good reason. “Unfortunately, as the temperature outside begins to rise, so does the pollen and mold count,” explains Paige Parker, DO, of Catawba Valley Family Medicine – Viewmont. ...

Racinda's Story of Breakthrough Innovation and Healing

After receiving treatment for a common but painful condition back in 2011, Racinda Young’s family doctor advised her to go to the hospital if her pain continued. Still experiencing the same pain, Racinda took her doctor’s advice and went to the Emergency Department. Upon examination, the physician on duty discovered evidence of a more serious condition and she was then sent to Wake ...

Be Kind to Your Feet in 2020

Resolutions for the new year come in all shapes and sizes, but perhaps the most common pledge people make to themselves is to exercise more, get in shape and lose a few pounds. Any healthcare provider would tell you those are great goals. But don’t forget your feet. Whether you’re starting a new exercise routine, enduring long days standing or walking at work, or simply dealing with ...

Vickie Scott Dedicates Her Life to Those in Need

Vickie Scott, now in her sixties, has dedicated her life to helping others in need. After years of mentoring young girls and providing them a shoulder to lean on, Vickie found that her volunteer work meshed perfectly with FaithHealth Catawba, so she joined the organization in 2019. FaithHealth Catawba is a dynamic partnership between the faith community, Catawba Valley Health System and other ...

Julie Cook Receives a Weight Loss Wake Up Call

After being overweight for most of her life, Julie Cook, age 46, received a wake-up call following a colonoscopy last year that revealed five precancerous polyps. Considering that her mom had recently passed away from colon cancer, Julie’s doctor recommended a colon cancer screening even though she was younger than the recommended age for such a screening. It was then that she decided to ...

Angela Horton Gets Her Heart Back On Track With Healthy Habits

Angela Horton, 44, was feeling run down. But she thought she may need to see a doctor after having to call her mom to help her stay awake one evening while she drove home from work. She wondered if a poor diet and lack of exercise may be why she was feeling so tired. As she put on weight and started having difficulty breathing, her co-workers pulled her aside and suggested she take some time off. ...

Five Tips to Make Your Resolution Last

Every New Year, scores of people flood to their local fitness centers. They’re fired-up, ready to make a change … then, “it” happens. It doesn’t matter what “it” is, but something changes and their exercise routine doesn’t survive. Below are a few tips to help you stick to those fitness aspirations: Identify your motivation. Why are you exercising? ...

CVHS Adds New Foot And Ankle Practice, Doctor Of Podiatric Medicine

HICKORY – Catawba Valley Health System (CVHS) announced in January the creation of a new foot and ankle practice, as well as the addition of Dr. Blake Weeks, doctor of podiatric medicine. Catawba Valley Foot & Ankle Center is now open at 1985 Startown Rd. Suite 101 in Hickory. Dr. Weeks is a Hickory native who most recently practiced at Raleigh General Total Foot & Ankle of Beckley, ...

Frankie Cooke Still Working Out At 101 Years Old

At 101 years old, Frankie Cooke is still going strong. As one of the first members of Fitness Plus, Catawba Valley Medical Center’s fitness center, Frankie continues her dedication to working out. “Coming to the fitness center for all these years is the reason I’m still living,” said Frankie. “Working out really keeps me going.” On Frankie’s 101 st ...

Mason and Katie Welcome Catawba Valley Medical Center's First Baby Of The Year

As people rang in the New Year, Mason and Katie headed to Catawba Valley Medical Center to welcome their little girl, Mayleigh, into the world. Mayleigh was born at 2:17am on January 1, 2020 weighing 7 pounds and 13 ounces. “What a great way to begin the new year,” said Mason. “It’s a time to celebrate new beginnings and our new family.” Labor and Delivery nurses ...