Pennsylvania Department of Health Recognizes Centre County Hospital with Award for Excellence in Health Care Compliance

National Healthcare Quality Week is Oct. 14-20

PLEASANT GAP, Pa., Oct. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Acting Secretary of Health Michael Wolf today presented the HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital in Pleasant Gap, Centre County, with the state's first award for "Excellence in Health Care Compliance."

This hospital was one of seven of the state's 244 health care facilities, and the only one in the region, to receive this award during National Healthcare Quality Week.

"As the industry regulators, we understand the importance of identifying best practices and recognizing the strengths that we have here in Pennsylvania," Wolf said. "This new award was developed to identify facilities demonstrating excellence in meeting state regulations and positively reinforce those actions."

The Department of Health licenses and oversees hospitals statewide including acute care, long-term acute care, critical access, rehabilitation, children's and psychiatric hospitals. In addition, the department conducts approximately 2,000 inspections annually, including licensure and certification surveys, follow-up surveys and complaint investigations.

Facilities receiving the award were required to have no health citations during the last state licensure survey and no major life safety code deficiencies on the last building inspection. All department-licensed hospitals were eligible for the awards and did not need to apply to be considered.

"I am extremely honored to accept this first-of-its-kind award on behalf of our physicians and employees who support our hospital's mission every day by providing high quality healthcare and an excellent patient experience," Susan Hartman , CEO of HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital said. "The Pennsylvania Department of Health sets high standards for us to achieve, and I am proud that we have earned their trust through this award."

To view hospital surveys from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, visit www.health.state.pa.us and select "Hospitals" under the "Facilities, Providers and Managed Care Plans" tab.

Media contact: Kait Gillis or Holli Senior , 717-787-1783

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Health

RELATED LINKS
http://www.health.state.pa.us