TROY — Two-thousand and twenty-three was a challenging year for health care providers, said Kevin Harlan, president of Upper Valley Medical Center (UVMC).

Despite lingering financial challenges from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, “Premier Health has continued to effectively serve the 8-county region we serve in Southwest Ohio,” he said. “While some services have been streamlined, others have grown to stay current with ever-changing needs.”

Upper Valley Medical Center in 2023 celebrated the next phase of a multi-year modernization project designed to provide a better patient experience within the 25-year-old facility, said a report submitted by Gail Peterson, UVMC site manager, communications & community relations.

The “patient flow project” launched in 2019 was designed to enhance wayfinding and privacy, as well as easier access to the retail pharmacy, gift shop, patient registration, CompuNet Clinical Lab, cardiac/pulmonary diagnostics, and medical imaging.

“We are pleased to allow more ease of access, comfort, and convenience for people as they enter the hospital, as well as greater efficiencies for our staff,” said Harlan. “We believe the enhancements help provide a more comfortable, healing environment for patients and visitors.”

The project brought further enhancements to the surgical waiting common area on the second floor above the main lobby, as well as upgrades to nursing units in the patient room corridors.

Another exciting enhancement at the hospital in 2023 was a cardiac catheterization lab renovation project completed in the fall. This involved installation of a Azurion 7 M20 catheterization system which brings the most-up-to-date equipment and technologies and expands the diagnostic and interventional cardiac and peripheral services and care for patients.

This new technology, replacing the original lab system installed in 2018, allows even better visualization of the patient’s coronary and peripheral arteries for the cardiologists, while providing less radiation to the staff and patient. The advanced visualization offers the ability to optimize stent and balloon placement allowing for proper sizing and minimizing any chance of the artery narrowing once the stent is placed.

Along with the new equipment, the cardiac cath lab was relocated from the surgery department on the second floor to the first floor directly adjacent to the emergency department (ED) to allow for greater efficiency, patient safety and overall patient experience. UVMC ha the only Level II cardiac cath lab in Miami County.

The proximity to the ED allows for quicker intervention and greater ease of access for transport by CareFlight or MICU for patients who may require a higher level of care at a tertiary center such as Premier Health’s Miami Valley Hospital.

The cath lab project was largely supported by the UVMC Foundation donors.

“It is clear that the UVMC Foundation’s donors understand the importance of having the most advanced cath technologies available in our hospital,” said Duanna Osting, president of the UVMC Foundation. “This is an extremely important, potentially life-saving service for our community.”

Also in 2023, Premier Health expanded cancer care services at UVMC to include the Premier Blood and Cancer Center. The expansion provides patients with greater access to care that includes the diagnosis and treatment of blood and lymph disorders such as leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin’s, and myeloma.

The Premier Blood and Cancer Center at UVMC offers patients services such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, blood transfusions, and other blood-related services.

“At Premier Health, we are strongly committed to providing patients with greater access to the diagnosis and treatment of various types of cancers, including cancers related to blood disorders,” said Trisha Wackler, UVMC chief operating officer.

A major enhancement coming to UVMC in 2024 is a dedicated UVMC Women’s Imaging Center currently under construction within the hospital. This center will pull all resources into one area to enable easy navigation of services that women routinely need, such as mammography, ultrasound, and bone densitometry, as well as consultation with a breast navigator and genetic counseling.

Additionally, the center’s comprehensive program will include MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and stereotactic breast biopsy for those who need further services.

The new center will allow for private waiting areas and consultation with patient navigators, surgeons, and radiologists.

“It will truly provide for personalized care in a supportive environment,” said Jacqui Rose, UVMC director of medical imaging. “We are very excited to introduce this dedicated center in the spring to enhance the experience of our patients and customers.” The new women’s imaging center is being supported by UVMC Foundation funding.

Another enhancement launched this year involves renovation of the operating rooms and adjacent areas in the hospital surgery department. This four-phase project is projected to be complete by first quarter of 2026.

Additionally, renovation of the progressive care unit and inpatient dialysis suites is underway and will be completed later this year.

Successful surveys for the hospital over the past year included:

• Being named a recipient of the 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ by Healthgrades, ranking UVMC among the top 10 percent of hospitals in the nation for patient safety;

• Achieving a Leapfrog Group patient safety watchdog organization score of “A” in both the spring and fall review periods;

• The Wound Care Center and Hyperbaric Services at UVMC being named a recipient of the Center of Distinction award by Healogics®, the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care services;

• Being awarded Level 3 Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation from the American College of Emergency Physicians along with all the Premier Health Emergency Departments.

For more information on UVMC and the Premier Health system, visit www.premierhealth.com.

About UVMC/Premier Health:

Upper Valley Medical Center is a part of Premier Health. Based in Dayton, Ohio, Premier Health (www.premierhealth.com) has a mission to improve the health of the communities it serves. Home to the region’s only adult Level I trauma center and the largest locally based clinical laboratory, Premier Health continues to build upon a more than 130-year legacy of providing clinical excellence and compassionate care to friends and neighbors across Southwest Ohio. The health system offers award-winning care at five hospital sites: Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton with additional inpatient sites at Miami Valley Hospital South in Centerville and Miami Valley Hospital North in Englewood; Atrium Medical Center in Middletown; and Upper Valley Medical Center in Miami County. In addition, Premier Health provides a comprehensive range of care choices at its eight emergency departments, ten Urgent Care locations, and more than 130 outpatient locations and affiliated primary care and specialty physician offices, as well as home health, mental health, and substance abuse services.