CEDAR CITY — Valley View Medical Center in Cedar City has been named one of the “Community Value Five-Star Hospitals” by Cleverley and Associates, a national, independent hospital review organization. The designation means Valley View has reached the top 20 percent of all hospitals in the nation, based on the value the hospitals provide for their communities. Some of the criteria include financial viability, facility reinvestments, maintenance of a low-cost structure, and high quality patient care at reasonable prices.

“It’s a great honor to be named as a Five Star Hospital, now for the second year in a row,” Jason Wilson, Valley View Medical Center CEO and administrator, said. “I am grateful that national organizations like Cleverly and Associates recognize the exceptional quality of care and value that Valley View provides to our entire area.  And once again, the credit belongs to our staff.  It’s a privilege to work with people that are of the highest caliber, and that truly care about our patients and their loved ones that walk through our doors.  Every day I see them go above and beyond in their roles here at the hospital to create the best possible healing experience and reach the highest of ideals in healthcare.”

Valley View Medical Center is part of Intermountain Healthcare, and eight other Intermountain hospitals were also recognized as “Five-Star” hospitals for 2014, including: Alta View, American Fork, LDS, Logan Regional, McKay-Dee, Riverton, Sevier Valley and Utah Valley Regional. With the exception of Riverton Hospital, all these same hospitals, including Valley View, also received the “Five-Star” designation in 2013.  The only non-Intermountain Healthcare hospital in Utah to be included among the 2014 honorees was Davis Hospital and Medical Center.

Valley View Medical Center is a not-for-profit community hospital. Its mission is to provide high quality care at the lowest appropriate cost regardless of ability to pay, according to a press release. The not-for-profit designation means any profit made is reinvested into the hospital and the community, because the hospital doesn’t have shareholders. Valley View provided more than $4 million of charity care in this last year, covering more than 6,000 cases.  Leading members of the community oversee the hospital and its operations on Valley View’s volunteer governing board, according to the press release.

The hospital’s not-for-profit designation also means Valley View is able to invest in programs and entities that strengthen overall health in the community, according to the press release.  A few recent examples fall under Intermountain’s LiveWell program. Through this program, the hospital supports healthy living initiatives such as the Utah Summer Games; a new sports medicine program with the Iron County School District that provides athletic trainers to help student athletes at area high schools; a mile-long community walking trail around the Valley View campus; and public service announcements on various media outlets.  The not-for-profit mission has allowed the hospital to invest in programs such as expanded cancer services, so patients do not have to travel for treatment, and expanded tele-health services that allow the hospital to connect to specialists all over the world to help diagnose, treat and heal local patients.

A few other recognitions Valley View has received include “44th Best Hospital in the Nation” from Becker’s Hospital Review, Top Performer on Joint Commission Key Quality Measures, and Gallup Survey “Great Workplace Award”.