SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., - Regional West Medical Center has been recognized by VHA Inc., a national health care provider alliance, for its implementation of rapid response teams as a way to provide safer, more effective care for patients. Only 69 of VHA’s 1400 member hospitals received this award at VHA’s annual Leadership Conference in Denver on May 20. To qualify, Regional West had to demonstrate at least a 20-percentage point decrease in patient “code blues” (respiratory or cardiac arrest) outside of its intensive care unit.

Preventing code blues from occurring decreases patient mortality rates significantly. Rapid response teams include a variety of hospital staff members, including nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists and pharmacists. When patients show signs of distress or changes in vital signs, the team is called within minutes to the bedside for rapid assessment and treatment. Their response is crucial because patient survival rates are directly impacted by how quickly the patient can be assessed and treated.

“We are gratified to be recognized for the results we’ve achieved in deploying and using rapid response teams to enhance patient care at the bedside,” said Dr. Todd Sorensen, president and chief executive officer at Regional West Medical Center. “This award validates the dedication of our clinical staff and physicians to continually provide excellent care.”

“At the heart of the covenant between patients and hospitals lies the belief that clinical excellence is paramount,” said Trent Haywood, MD, JD, chief medical officer at VHA. “Regional West Medical Center is a shining example of what can be achieved when a hospital's actions are guided by the pursuit of clinical excellence.”

Regional West Health Services, with over 1,300 employees, provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, Regional West offers care that spans more than 40 medical specialties. Regional West Medical Center, a subsidiary of Regional West Health Services, is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and is one of only three Level II Trauma Centers in the state of Nebraska.