About Catawba Valley Health System

Expansion:

• CVMC officially completed its three-year Emergency Department and Heart Center expansion and renovation project
• In April, we announced the merger of Safe Kids Catawba County and CVMC Women and Children Services.
• In July, Catawba Valley Health System’s Occupational Health Center moved to a new location.
• In July, Catawba Valley Health System announced the addition of Catawba Valley Surgery & Cancer Center to its medical group, formerly named Carolina Surgery & Cancer Center.
• In September, Catawba Valley Health System announced the addition of Catawba Valley Vascular Surgery – Horizon in Lenoir to its medical group, formerly named Horizon Surgical Specialists.
• In November, Catawba Valley Medical Group officially announced the opening of Catawba Valley Family Medicine – Conover.

Recruitment & Retention:

• In January, CVHS promoted five long-time staff members as members of our executive team. Nadin Knippschild was named Assistant Vice President/Chief information Officer. Stephanie Chapman and Jackie Miller both assumed the role of Assistant Vice President of Nursing. Chuck Scronce was named Assistant Vice President of Clinical Support. Ava Taylor was appointed Assistant Vice President of Operations.
• In October, CVHS announced the hiring of Mariane Carna as the new president of its Catawba Valley Medical Group.
• Throughout the year, Catawba Valley Health System hired 34 new providers, and 718 staff members. This brings the total number of CVHS employees to 2,488.

Awards and Recognitions:

• In March, CVMC was named as the sole recipient of the 2023 Perinatal Quality Collaborative of North Carolina (PQCNC) Quality Improvement Award.
• In May, CVMC received an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group for Spring 2024.
• In May, CVMC presented the DAISY Award for the first time.
• In June, Catawba Valley Health System received a Gold Level recognition for 2024 in the American Heart Workforce Well-being Scorecard.
• In July, Catawba Valley Medical Center’s Surgical Weight Management program was named a Surgical Quality Partner by the American College of Surgeons
• In August, Catawba Valley Medical Center received the only 4-star rating for a hospital within the Unifour region, which encompasses Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba counties.
• In October, CVHS was voted as a Hickory Daily Record ‘Best of Catawba” winner in three categories! Our organization was voted Best Hospital, Best Healthcare Organization, and Best Vascular Care.
• In November, CVMC received an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group for Fall 2024. This marked the 16th ‘A’ grade for safety that CVMC has received in Leapfrog’s last 17 reporting periods.
• In December, CVMC was named as a High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report. CVMC was the only hospital in the Unifour region to earn this distinction.
• In December, CVMC was recognized by Women’s Choice Award as a Top 100 Hospital in America for Patient Experience. We received nine other rewards for excellence in Bariatric Surgery, Cancer Care, Heart Care, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Obstetrics, Orthopedics, Outpatient Experience, Patient Safety, and Stroke Care.

Technology:

• In January, we announced the use of Higinsights, a new mixed-reality technology that aides in total hip replacement surgeries. CVHS joined Duke University Health as the only other organization in North Carolina to use this technology.
• In January, Catawba Valley Imaging Center announced new technology that helps doctors find breast cancers earlier. The technology, which is called Profound AI, maximizes the benefits of a woman having a 3D screening mammogram.
• In March, our medical center announced the use of the MazorX Robotic Guidance Platform to conduct robotic-assisted spine surgery, allowing orthopedic surgeons to use 3D planning, guidance, and visualization techniques to improve outcomes and provide personalized care for spine surgery patients.
• In April, we announced a new partnership with Charlotte-based manufacturer Terraloam, a company that makes fully compostable medical supplies, including medical isolation gowns and patient belonging bags.
• In April, our Women and Children’s Center began the used of billiblankets, a technology that provides a way to decrease length of stay for infants with hyperbilirubinemia, or jaundice.
• In April, CVMC and Catawba Valley Cardiology performed the first procedure with the FARAPULSE™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System.
• In July, CVMC announced the launch of its ION Robotic Lung Biopsy Program, the latest technology for lung cancer care in the Catawba Valley region.
• In October, CVHS introduced the latest advancement in surgical technology by acquiring the da Vinci 5 Surgical Robot.