Innovation, dedication and optimism – those are the foundational elements of Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System’s response to ongoing change in 2021. It was a year that began with a community uniting to share the COVID vaccine as widely as possible – a year that many people hoped would soon see an end to the pandemic. It was a year that introduced the alpha, delta and omicron variants, along with escalating supply chain disruptions.
In managing these cycles of uncertainty, we learned much about the power of ingenuity. We found new ways to meet our mission to provide quality healthcare to our patients and to improve the health and well-being of our community. Our exceptional team is at the heart of our success. Throughout this journey, our staff has never stopped answering the call to support each other and our patients.
That dedication has earned us the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition®, the highest and most prestigious distinction that a healthcare organization can achieve for nursing excellence. This elite designation is shared by only 9% of hospitals across the United States.
The work of our talented team is widely recognized for top-quality patient care. This includes awards from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology and accreditation by the Joint Commission for complying with the highest national standards for safety and quality of care and for being committed to continually improving patient care. We are also proud to have earned additional consecutive “A” ratings for hospital safety in 2021 from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization.
Our Structural Heart Program achieved incredible milestones in providing life-changing cardiac procedures for patients close to home in 2021. Our now well-established transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and WATCHMAN™ device programs, as well as our MitraClip™ procedures, are saving and improving lives in the communities we serve. These specializations mean that SVMHS patients with conditions like aortic stenosis, atrial fibrillation and severe mitral valve regurgitation spend less time in the hospital and see improvements in their quality of life.
Through all these efforts and more, SVMHS remains committed to increasing diversity, equity and inclusion. The pandemic has underscored the importance of community and social and emotional well-being, and it has shined a light on inequalities in healthcare access that we must address for the health of our community.
I look forward to the opportunities of the future – a future of greater awareness and one that reflects the collective richness of our Salinas Valley community. Thank you to every member of our community for your ongoing support and faith in what we do.
As we forge ahead, I am grateful to lead a talented and truly selfless team of individuals who demonstrate a commitment to each other, our patients and our communities – in everything they do.
Sincerely,
Pete Delgado
President/CEO
