An ambitious expansion at Desert Valley Hospital in Victorville, CA is nearing completion. The facility was the first in the Prime Healthcare Services (PHS) System which now boasts 12 hospitals. While many hospitals struggle to survive, Prime continues to respond to market demands by creating a healthcare delivery model that improves efficiencies and ultimately, improves patient outcomes.
Prime hospitals have gained a reputation for creating extremely efficient ERs. Patients are not kept waiting for hours in a crowded ER department, paramedics experience less time ‘on the wall’ waiting for beds to open up so are able to respond to more emergencies, and overall patient flow is optimized. Last year, over 29,000 patients flowed through the Desert Valley ER department which will now be even more efficient with additional beds and improved efficiencies.
An additional Cardiac Cath Lab and 65 additional beds at an estimated cost of $10 million, demonstrates Prime’s commitment to this growing community. Cardiac care including an Open Heart program, have become an integral component of the Prime model.
There is a significant older population in the High Desert region of California and Prime has now dedicated an entire facility to senior wellness. The Desert Valley Senior Wellness Center is now open and offers a comprehensive range of activities open to all seniors including screenings, preventive programs, healthy lifestyle classes and social events.
Since opening its doors in the early 1990s, Desert Valley Hospital has consistently been recognized as a Top 100 Hospital in the Nation by a prestigious healthcare ranking organization.
With a healthcare industry in a state of flux, Prime continues to acquire ailing hospitals and save them from potential closure. It has established a pattern of investing millions of dollars in facility and equipment improvements even in the face of reduced state and federal reimbursements.
Managing hospitals like any other business is essential for survival in today’s healthcare environment. Underfunded services are no longer feasible in a state like California that is going broke and unable to provide adequate reimbursements. This volatile situation has resulted in difficult decisions regarding the viability of some essential services as well as challenging staffing issues.
Since the advent of managed care during the 1980s, the proliferation of healthcare insurers, and the huge profits garnered by healthcare administrators and bloated management, the Prime model is a remarkable success story. Smart management, a visionary approach involving physician driven patient care, and a practical approach to market demands has resulted in the survival of several hospitals, the expansion of others, and thousands of healthcare jobs protected.
