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Press Release

Prisma Health, in partnership with DHEC, launches community testing for COVID-19 at initial seven statewide screenings beginning this weekend

Press Release

Prisma Health will launch community screening for COVID-19 at seven locations across South Carolina beginning Saturday, with more sites expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The community testing, done in partnership with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), will reach populations who may not otherwise have access to traditional testing or online virtual visits.

The initial screenings will be located in neighborhoods in Greenville, Richland and Sumter counties. Additional communities will be identified in Prisma Health’s other service counties over the next few weeks.

“For those individuals who cannot come to us, we are taking the test sites to them,” said Dr. Scott Sasser, incident commander over Prisma Health’s COVID-19 response and a national leader in emergency medicine and community response. “We know that virtual visits and the drive-through testing sites aren’t the right access for everyone,” said Sasser.

Testing is a priority for Prisma Health, especially providing access to communities that need it the most.
Prisma Health providers, nurses, community paramedics and staff will provide this screening, testing, and education outreach as part of Prisma Health’s Accountable Communities initiative.

At the testing sites:

  • Individuals at these locations will be screened and those with COVID-19 symptoms will be tested without having a doctor’s order.
  • Testing will be provided regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.
  • No appointment is needed. Community members taking part will be given masks upon arrival and will be asked to maintain social distancing.
  • Test results are expected within four days.
  • Individuals will receive follow-up communication about the test results – whether positive or negative – from providers with Prisma Health.
  • Those attending the testing events also will receive information about isolating at home if sick, tips on caring for themselves and when to seek additional care should their symptoms worsen.
  • All events will run from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. regardless of locations or dates.

“Our team is focused on doing what we do best – finding ways to help those who depend on us,” said Sasser. “We understand that access to testing is limited. In this pandemic, testing availability for everyone has been a challenge. It’s important to test for this virus so that individuals and families know as quickly as possible when to isolate at home.”

Upstate sites include the following:

  • Saturday, May 2 – Augusta Heights Baptist (3018 Augusta St., Greenville, SC 29605)
  • Wednesday, May 6 – Augusta Heights Baptist (3018 Augusta St., Greenville, SC 29605)
  • Saturday, May 9 – La Unica SuperCenter (6119 White Horse Rd #3, Greenville, SC 29611)

Midlands sites include the following:

  • Saturday, May 2 – Union Baptist Church of Rembert (5840 Spring Hill Rd, Rembert, SC 29128)
  • Wednesday, May 6 – Hopkins Park Adult Activity Center (144 Hopkins Park Road, Hopkins, SC 29061)
  • Friday, May 8 – Richland County Rec Community Center (2750 McCords Ferry Rd, Eastover, SC 29044)
  • Saturday, May 9 – Garners Ferry Adult Activity Center (8620 Garners Ferry Road, Hopkins, SC 29061)

The initial test kits were provided to Prisma Health by DHEC at no charge.

Prisma Health has already opened five drive-through testing facilities across the state and testing sites for first responders, as well as launched a free Virtual Visit option for patients with suspected COVID-19, opened a community COVID-19 hotline and this week debuted the state’s first free interactive symptom tracker for the virus. Details of Prisma Health’s COVID-19 community outreach is available at https://saprismahealth.wpengine.com/coronavirus/ The hotline number is 1-833-2PRISMA.

About Prisma Health
Prisma Health is a not-for-profit health company and the largest healthcare system in South Carolina. With nearly 30,000 team members, 18 hospitals, 2,984 beds and more than 300 physician practice sites, Prisma Health serves more than 1.2 million unique patients annually. Its goal is to improve the health of all South Carolinians by enhancing clinical quality, the patient experience and access to affordable care, as well as conducting clinical research and training the next generation of medical professionals. For more information, visit PrismaHealth.org.

Six Prisma Health hospitals earn “A” in fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades

Press Release

GREENVILLE, SC—Six Prisma Health hospitals have earned “A” grades in the fall 2020 Hospital Safety Grades released by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. The Leapfrog Group assigns letter grades to approximately 2,600 hospitals across the United States based on performance and outcome measures, such as preventing medical errors, infections and other harms to patients in their care.

Prisma Health’s Greenville Memorial Hospital and Baptist Hospital in Columbia improved their letter grades to A and B, respectively, and Prisma Health’s Greer Memorial Hospital, Hillcrest Hospital and Oconee Memorial Hospital earned Leapfrog’s “straight A” honor, receiving five or more A ratings in a row.

Kristin Vondrak, Prisma Health’s chief quality executive, said, “In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am especially grateful for our teams’ ongoing commitment to patient safety, quality and being the difference. We are particularly proud Baptist Easley Hospital improved their letter grade from a C to an A during the reporting period.”

Many Prisma Health campuses saw an improvement in their overall performance as compared to the prior reporting period. “Even where improvements may not have been quite enough to move to the next letter grade on Leapfrog’s scale, we are proud of the dedication and focus our performance reflects,” said Vondrak.

Leapfrog’s fall 2020 Hospital Safety Grades for Prisma Health:

  • Baptist Easley Hospital A (spring 2020 = C)
  • Baptist Hospital B (spring 2020 = C)
  • Baptist Parkridge Hospital A (spring 2020 = A)
  • Greenville Memorial Hospital A (Spring 2020 = B)
  • Greer Memorial Hospital A (spring 2020 = A)
  • Hillcrest Hospital A (spring 2020 = A)
  • Laurens County Hospital B (spring 2020 = A)
  • Oconee Memorial Hospital A (spring 2020 = A)
  • Richland Hospital C (spring 2020 = C)
  • Tuomey Hospital C (spring 2020 = C)

Vondrak added, “At Prisma Health, we are committed to a culture of constantly improving the patient’s overall experience and the quality of service provided across the healthcare spectrum. Like all healthcare systems, this is a journey and we are continuously learning and enhancing, building upon our solid foundation. Our focus always remains on our patients – providing exceptional, safe care to every patient, every day, as a trusted partner in our community.”

“We are extremely grateful to hospital leadership and health care workers who have remained steadfast in prioritizing patient safety as our nation battles COVID-19,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. To see Prisma Health’s full grade details, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org.

Not all Prisma Health hospitals are included in the report. The Leapfrog Group excludes locations that do not meet certain data thresholds surrounding patient volumes and services offered. It also excludes critical access and specialty hospitals, such as the Children’s Hospitals in Columbia and Greenville and the Heart Hospital in Columbia. These ratings were compiled using national data ranging from 2017–2020.

About Prisma Health
Prisma Health is a not-for-profit health company and the largest healthcare system in South Carolina. With nearly 30,000 team members, 18 hospitals, 2,947 beds and more than 300 physician practice sites, Prisma Health serves more than 1.2 million unique patients annually. Its goal is to improve the health of all South Carolinians by enhancing clinical quality, the patient experience and access to affordable care, as well as conducting clinical research and training the next generation of medical professionals. For more information, visit PrismaHealth.org.

Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge Hospital named 2020 Leapfrog Top General Hospital

Press Release

COLUMBIA, SC—Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge Hospital has proudly earned the national distinction of being named a 2020 Leapfrog Top General Hospital.

The Leapfrog Group annually recognizes hospitals achieving the highest standards of excellence in quality and safety by honoring them as a Top Hospital. Fewer than 6% of all eligible facilities across the country receive this designation.

Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge Hospital

To qualify, hospitals must rank top among peers on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which assesses hospital performance on the highest standards for quality and patient safety, as well as achieve top performance in its category. The key criteria for this honor include:

  • Achieving an “A” for the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade.
  • Achieving Leapfrog Standards for CPOE (computerized provider order entry), ICU Physician Staffing and Never Events Policy.
  • Reporting on all (applicable) measures and achieving Leapfrog standards on at least 60% of those measures.

Michael Bundy, Prisma Health Baptist and Baptist Parkridge CEO, said, “This team has demonstrated a continued commitment to providing the best possible care as they have fought through the pandemic, and they should be proud of this achievement. Not only did they achieve Magnet status earlier this year but now they have received this national honor for quality. Our team is always focused on their patients and being recognized for their excellence and commitment is a wonderful accomplishment.”

Over 2,200 hospitals were considered for the award. Among those, Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge received a Top General Hospital distinction. A total of 105 hospitals were selected as Top Hospitals, including:

  • 9 Top Children’s Hospitals.
  • 29 Top General Hospitals.
  • 19 Top Rural Hospitals.
  • 48 Top Teaching Hospitals.

The remainder of the Leap Frog hospital ratings will be available Monday, Dec. 14.

Kristin Vondrak, Chief Quality Executive, Prisma Health, said, “At Prisma Health, we are committed to a culture of constantly improving the patient’s overall experience and the quality of service provided across the healthcare spectrum.” She added, “Like all healthcare systems, this is a journey and we are continuously learning and enhancing, building upon our solid foundation. Our focus always remains on our patients – providing exceptional, safe care to every patient, every day, as a trusted partner in our community.”

Hospitals that satisfy the quantitative criteria outlined above must also meet the committee’s qualitative requirements for overall excellence, which include a review of data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and other publicly available information pertaining to the hospital. Hospitals must perform at or above the national rate on specific CMS measures to be considered for this award.

About Prisma Health
Prisma Health is a not-for-profit health company and the largest healthcare system in South Carolina. With nearly 30,000 team members, 18 hospitals, 2,947 beds and more than 300 physician practice sites, Prisma Health serves more than 1.2 million unique patients annually. Its goal is to improve the health of all South Carolinians by enhancing clinical quality, the patient experience and access to affordable care, as well as conducting clinical research and training the next generation of medical professionals. For more information, visit PrismaHealth.org.

Prisma Health Children’s Hospital and First Responders to brighten spirits of hospitalized kids with Good Night Lights

Press Release

Columbia, S.C. —Prisma Health Children’s Hospital–Midlands will help brighten the holiday season for patients and their families with this Sunday’s Good Night Lights event on the Columbia hospital campus.

The Good Night Lights event, to be held this Sunday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m., helps light up the night – and hearts – of young patients and families. During the event, first responders will parade around the hospital campus to shine lights toward patients’ windows to help send well wishes, positive thoughts and holiday cheer as the children “answer back” with their own flashlights.

“Being in the hospital is hard for children and their families, especially so during the holidays,” said Caughman Taylor, MD, medical director of the Children’s Hospital in Columbia. “Good Night Lights is a heart-warming way to send bright beams of well wishes find a way we know helps the children in their healing and families in their ability to get through difficult times.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the event will not include public participation. Instead, Santa, the Columbia Fire Department and other first responders will parade around Children’s Hospital to shine love to children from their flashlights and brightly flashing trucks. Local radio station B106.7 FM will be on-hand to play Christmas music as a backdrop to the parade spectacle. Children will receive holiday treats and Children’s Hospital flashlights and the parade will begin at 7 p.m. To end the night, patients also will be treated to a bedtime story pre-recorded for them by the hospital’s medical director. 

A similar Good Night Lights event also will be held at the Prisma Health Children’s Hospital in Greenville.

The event presents a unique opportunity for children to enjoy some holiday excitement, said Taylor. “Children’s Hospital specializes in healing the ‘whole’ child, including mental and social factors, beyond their physical symptoms,” said Taylor. “Initiatives like Good Night Lights create joyful moments for children and families during this season, and community support means so much to these families and our care teams year-round.”

Children’s Hospital also is encouraging gifts to the Wish List, especially those items noted as high-priority by our Child Life Specialists. For more information visit PrismaHealth.org/Wishlist. In addition, Prisma Health Midlands Foundation invites donors to contribute $25 online to provide a child with the Children’s Hospital mascot, Buddy the Bear, plush animal. Visit Give.PrismaHealthMidlandsFoundation.org\Buddy to donate.

About Prisma Health
Prisma Health is a not-for-profit health company and the largest healthcare system in South Carolina. With nearly 30,000 team members, 18 hospitals, 2,984 beds and more than 300 physician practice sites, Prisma Health serves more than 1.2 million unique patients annually. Its goal is to improve the health of all South Carolinians by enhancing clinical quality, the patient experience and access to affordable care, as well as conducting clinical research and training the next generation of medical professionals. For more information, visit PrismaHealth.org.

Prisma Health leads nation in implementation of innovative heart monitoring technology

Press Release

GREENVILLE, S.C.— Prisma Health continues to provide innovative care for Heart Failure patients and is proud to lead the country in implementation of the CardioMEMS™ HF System, a wireless device that allows heart failure patients to monitor their pulmonary artery pressure from the comfort of their home. Since its initial launch at Prisma Health five years ago, 426 devices have been implanted in patients, helping doctors observe and proactively treat symptoms of worsening heart failure remotely. This is the most implantations of any healthcare system across the country, with outstanding care resulting in improved quality of life, substantial reduction in Heart Failure hospitalizations and emergency department visits.

The sensor is implanted with a short outpatient procedure of approximately 30 minutes. The sensor sends important information to the team of Heart Failure specialists at Prisma Health to help guide patient care. In addition to reduction in Heart Failure hospitalizations and ER visits, patients have significantly improved quality of life with the knowledge their Heart Failure is being actively managed.

“Use of this implant and technology has allowed our patients to spend more time at home while also receiving constant monitoring and treatment from our team of providers. This consistency of care is always a benefit to our patients, and during the pandemic, this has been even more helpful to our patients who are trying to reduce their risks,” said Barry Feldman, MD, Chair of the Heart and Vascular service line at Prisma Health. “This recognition reinforces Prisma Health’s leadership role as the most comprehensive cardiology program in the state of South Carolina, offering more innovative services to help ensure quality outcomes in heart failure.”

Patients are eligible if they continue to experience Heart Failure symptoms despite adequate medical management. Physicians determine treatment based on considerations such as weight, telecommunication capability, access to care, social support, comorbidities and others.

This is one tool utilized in the comprehensive evaluation by the only Joint Commission Accredited Advanced Heart Failure Certified Center in the state that allows patients more time to be home, with their families.  This designation signifies the dedication of the Prisma Health Heart Failure teams to follow patients across the care continuum while in the hospital, at home or even while traveling. Telehealth, remote monitoring and many other technologies are all evaluated by the cardiology team as potential options for a thorough Heart Failure plan. 

CardioMEMS is currently the only FDA-approved pulmonary artery sensor available for treatment. According to a study published in The Lancet, the CardioMEMS™ HF System is the first and only clinically proven heart failure monitor proven to significantly reduce heart failure hospital admissions and improve quality of life. Additional studies have continued to show substantial clinical benefit with reductions in hospital admissions by 58% over an average of 12 months.

About Prisma Health
Prisma Health is a not-for-profit health company and the largest healthcare system in South Carolina. With nearly 30,000 team members, 18 hospitals, 2,947 beds and more than 300 physician practice sites, Prisma Health serves more than 1.2 million unique patients annually. Its goal is to improve the health of all South Carolinians by enhancing clinical quality, the patient experience and access to affordable care, as well as conducting clinical research and training the next generation of medical professionals. For more information, visit PrismaHealth.org.

Prisma Health’s annual Dragon Boat race goes virtual to raise $240,000 to fight cancer

Press Release

GREENVILLE, SC—The COVID-19 pandemic docked the boats, but not the community support for this year’s Prisma Health Dragon Boat Upstate Festival. The annual fundraiser, which switched to a virtual race this year, raised $240,000 for advanced cancer research, prevention and survivor programs for the Prisma Health Cancer Institute.

“Regardless of this terrible pandemic, every day our patients and caregivers continue to fight cancer,” said Larry Gluck, MD, medical director of the Cancer Institute. “It is this type of innovation and commitment to genuinely world-class care here in our backyard that is making a difference in patients. The generous and continued philanthropic support from our community helps make all this possible.”

Since it launched in 2006, Dragon Boat Upstate Festival has raised more than $3 million, helping propel the Prisma Health Cancer Institute forward in the areas of advanced cancer research and to provide patient prevention and survivorship programs in the Upstate. Programs include the Center for Cancer Prevention and Wellness,  Institute for Translational Oncology Research, McCrary Blood & Marrow Transplant Unit, South Carolina Ovarian Cancer Foundation and  Center for Integrative Oncology & Survivorship (CIOS).

Dragon Boat Upstate Festival comprises 26 community teams with each having a goal to raise a minimum of $3,500 for the Prisma Health Cancer Institute. Traditionally, teams celebrate their fundraising work by racing in Dragon Boats at Portman Shoals Marina, but COVID-19 forced the virtual race this fall. 

“The resiliency and dedication these teams demonstrated is heartwarming and inspiring,” said Risé L. Wilson, executive director for the Prisma Health’s philanthropy office in the Upstate. “It would have been easy to let things fall by the wayside, but these community teams stepped up after facing multiple challenges, all in the pursuit to fight cancer. We look forward to having everyone out on the water again in 2021 and reaching our $500,000 goal to celebrate 15 years of the Festival.”

Despite the unprecedented virtual year, the founding and top fundraising team, Ragin’ Cajuns, raised $18,935; and top fundraiser Nicole Bowen raised more than $5,000 as part of Team Torque. The CIOS Moving On team earned the spirit award and the Heme Team won the best team theme award. 

To learn more about the Prisma Health Upstate Dragon Boat Festival, visit www.dragonboatupstatesc.org.

About Prisma Health
Prisma Health is a not-for-profit health company and the largest healthcare system in South Carolina. With nearly 30,000 team members, 18 hospitals, 2,984 beds and more than 300 physician practice sites, Prisma Health serves more than 1.2 million unique patients annually. Its goal is to improve the health of all South Carolinians by enhancing clinical quality, the patient experience and access to affordable care, as well as conducting clinical research and training the next generation of medical professionals. For more information, visit PrismaHealth.org.

Using rowing machines bought with Dragon Boat dollars for cancer patients exercising at Prisma Health Life Center, Cancer Institute staff and physicians took part in a rowing challenge to raise additional money for their teams’ fund-raising goals. Shown from left are the Cancer Institute’s Larry Gluck, medical director, and Julie Martin, cancer research director.