CaroMont Health Names Dr. Jerry Levine Executive Vice President, Clinical Integration and Chief Medical Officer

GASTONIA, N.C., Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CaroMont Health is pleased to announce that Jerry Levine, MD will be joining the organization as Executive Vice President for Clinical Integration and Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr. Levine will lead the organization in all phases of clinical integration and collaborations with physicians to redesign the delivery of health care.

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Levine, an accomplished physician and leader in quality improvement initiatives, served at Hackensack University Medical Center in various senior leadership positions for 28 years. He comes to CaroMont Health following a national search among leading physician executives.

CaroMont Health President and CEO, Valinda Rutledge noted Levine's proven track record of success in leading broad, cutting edge initiatives. "Jerry is the best in this field. His experience as a senior clinical leader and his knowledge of current health care industry trends makes him the ideal person to lead CaroMont Health's physician initiatives," Rutledge said. "CaroMont is presently a national leader in health care quality and innovation, and Dr. Levine will be a key factor in our future success as we strategically position ourselves to deliver high quality, affordable health care in a rapidly evolving industry."

Dr. Levine graduated from New York University School of Medicine in 1976, and completed a 3-year medical residency at NYU Medical Center- Manhattan VA Hospital. After an additional year as Chief Medical Resident at The Manhattan VA Hospital, he completed his Fellowship in Infectious Diseases at the Manhattan VA Hospital. Levine joined Hackensack University Medical Center in 1982 as Chief of the Infectious Disease Division and later became Physician Liaison of Quality and Safety. He was honored as one of the "Best Doctors" in New York Magazine and one of the "Top Doctors" in New Jersey Monthly from 1999-2010. He is also included in this year's publication of America's Top Doctors.

"I look forward to working with the CaroMont Medical Group physician practices, the medical staff and our physician councils to develop and expand CaroMont's quality initiatives," Levine said. "CaroMont's leadership is passionate about providing exceptional health care to this community. The collaborative partnerships that are currently in place have positioned us well for the future. I look forward to building on those partnerships and keeping CaroMont on the leading edge of health care."

About CaroMont Health –

CaroMont Health in Gastonia, North Carolina is a regional, independent, not-for-profit health care system and nationally-recognized "value-based" health care provider (high quality, low cost). CaroMont Health is the only hospital in the region named by Thomson Reuters as a 100 Top Hospital for quality care and is one of two HealthGrades' Clinical Excellence recipients in North Carolina. CaroMont Health is among an elite group of 19 selected participants (out of 3,000 national hospitals/systems) engaged in demonstrating "Accountable Care Organizations" (hospitals focused on accountability for highest outcomes at the lowest cost for individualized patient care). CaroMont is engaged in innovative Chronic Disease Management pilot projects in partnership with local and regional employers, is implementing innovative prevention and wellness focused on individual and population health, and has a unique national partnership with GE and Sg2 to reduce costs and create integrated and coordinated systems of care. CaroMont Health also is among a select few hospitals to be granted affiliation with Columbia HeartSource of New York—a clinical partnership that provides patient access to world-class clinical guidance and research trials. CaroMont was recently upgraded by S&P to an AA bond-rating category—based on key rating factors that include: exceptional quality and clinical outcomes, excellence in governance and management structure, comprehensive information technology infrastructure, engaged excellence and integrated medical staff, fiscal accountability, operating performance, strong financial position and low cost structure.

CaroMont Health System encompasses Gaston Memorial Hospital with 435 beds; Courtland Terrace, a 96-bed skilled nursing community; Gaston Hospice, which includes the inpatient 12-bed Robin Johnson House; and CaroMont Medical Group, a network of 44 primary and specialty physician offices. The CaroMont Heart Center provides a full range of life-saving cardiac care, including open heart surgery. Additionally, the CaroMont Cancer Center provides advanced 3-D radiation treatment planning and chemotherapy. An expansive, surgical suite offers the latest advancements such as stereotactic technology, which utilizes computer simulation, microscopic surgery and x-ray images to achieve pinpoint accuracy. CaroMont also offers a level III neonatal intensive care unit for high risk infants and a pre-adolescent psychiatric center. CaroMont Health is proactively engaged in achieving its vision: To be a nationally-recognized leader and valued partner in promoting individual health and vibrant communities.

CaroMont Health employs 3,800 health care professionals, including a medical staff membership of 455. CaroMont Health is located at 2525 Court Drive in Gastonia, N.C. and can be reached at 704-834-2000. Additional information is available at www.caromont.org.

CaroMont Quality Awards

Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care

CIGNA highest quality rating for Patient Outcomes in Angioplasty, Cardiac

Catheterization, Colon Surgery, Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting, Craniotomy-Adult,

Disc Surgery, Heart Attack, and Spinal Fusion

Top Performer status (3rd highest score among all participating U.S. hospitals, and highest score of any NC hospital) in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Premier Healthcare Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration project

Aetna - Recognized Institute of Quality Cardiac Care

Advanced Certification in Stroke Care from the Joint Commission

Advanced Certification in Diabetes Care from the Joint Commission

Hospital Value Index: Top 100 Best in Value Hospital

American Heart Association Heart Failure Gold Plus Performance Achievement Awards.

Certification in Hip and Knee Surgery from the Joint Commission

Commission on Cancer Outstanding Achievement Award from College of Surgeons

ACS MIDAS+ Platinum Quality Award Winner for Excellence in Clinical Performance

HealthGrades - 7 five-star designations in Back and Neck Surgery (spinal fusion), Heart Valve Replacement Surgery, Sepsis Care, Respiratory Failure Care, Pulmonary Care and Gastrointestinal Procedures & Surgeries. This includes an award for excellence in care of the Back and Neck Surgery Cleverley + Associates Five-Star Honor for high community value

Among only 6 percent of national hospitals to achieve Magnet recognition status for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Association

SOURCE CaroMont Health