News Room - Press Releases

News Release
For Immediate Release
For more information, contact:
Lynne Zultanky, MSRT
Director, Corporate Communications and Media Relations
Phone: 757-889-5550, Pager: 757-680-3296
E-mail: Lynn_Zultanky@bshsi.com

Suffolk, Va.  (February 27, 2007)  - Bon Secours Hampton Roads Health System announced today, upon opening Thursday, March 1, 2007 at 7:00 a. m., the advanced emergency department at Bon Secours Health Center at Harbour view will offer a 30-minute guarantee to treatment. 

Patients arriving at the Bon Secours Health Center at Harbour View Emergency Department will have treatment initiated with 30-minutes of arrival, guaranteed.  Treatment is defined as the initiation of radiology, laboratory, or other diagnostic or therapeutic intervention, or being seen by a medical provider (physician or mid-level practitioner).   If treatment is not initiated within 30-minutes of arrival, a staff member will apologize for the delay and provide the patient with their choice of a movie pass or a gift certificate at a local merchant. 

“Our aim is to promptly assess, treat and discharge patients,” said Susan A. MacLeod, executive vice-president/administrator, Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center.  “The team’s focus will be to have each patient seen by a physician or beginning treatment within 30-minutes of arrival.  In fact, we guarantee it!”  

The concept of the 30-minute guarantee was developed based on consumer feedback during the development of the new emergency department.   Research showed the community’s desire for providers to be more sensitive to the fears and anxieties accompanying an emergency department visit.  Findings also suggested that health care providers could reduce those fears and anxieties, as well as, significantly improve satisfaction by starting treatment in a more timely manner.  

Bon Secours Richmond successfully implemented a similar program in three of their hospital emergency departments in early 2006.  In the first year, the hospitals achieved the 30-minute target between 92 and 97 percent of the time and the number of patients who left without being seen dropped to nearly zero.  As a result of the program, patient satisfaction increased.  In December 2005, percent excellent scores were from 68 to 94 percent range depending upon the facility.  One year later, patients rated the emergency departments excellent 80 to 96 percent of the time.        

About the Emergency Department at Bon Secours Health Center at Harbour View

Located in the Northern Suffolk region of Western Hampton Roads, Bon Secours Health Center at Harbour View is centered in one of the most rapidly growing areas in Hampton Roads.  The new emergency department is part of the ongoing expansion of medical services in the Harbour View area.  Most recently Bon Secours opened the Mid-Atlantic Hearing and Balance Center, in collaboration with Lakeview Medical Center and added a second MRI, an open bore, high magnetic field unit.

The community surrounding Bon Secours Health Center at Harbour View is one of Hampton Roads most rapidly growing areas.  According to population statistics, the Harbour View region is one of the top 20 fastest growing areas in Virginia and is expected to grow by 24% in the next 5 years.  

The $3.7 million emergency department, developed in collaboration with N.T. Brinkman, Inc., will initially offer emergency care 16-hours per day (7 a.m. to 11 p.m.), seven days a week and with increasing need, will be open 24-hours per day.  The new emergency department is an 11,000 square foot addition to the health center at Harbour View and will feature 17 treatment beds, which includes 15 treatment beds and 2 triage beds.  A fast track area will offer quick treatment for sore throats, earaches and stitches. The center will also offer advanced emergency care for patients of all ages and have the capability to stabilize and transfer emergent or critical patients to nearby hospitals.   In addition, the new emergency department will serve the community as a resource site in the event of a disaster or community-wide medical emergency. 

About Bon Secours Health Center at Harbour View
Bon Secours Health Center at Harbour View was established in 1999, as an outpatient care center to address the growing medical needs of the Northern Suffolk and Western Chesapeake community.  The facility is home to an outpatient surgical center, hosting six operating rooms (two dedicated to the Center for Sight) and with a diagnostic center that includes Western Hampton Roads only open MRI, a multi-slice CT scanner, a full service radiology facility.  Bon Secours Surgical Weight Loss Center was added in 2002 and the team has now performed more than 1,000 bariatric procedures predominately using minimally invasive access.  The Surgical Weight Loss Center was recently named Center of Excellence status by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. 

The gastroenterology center, pulmonary rehabilitation center and corporate offices were added in early 2004.  The Bon Secours Center for Colon and Rectal Diseases and the Millie Lancaster Women’s Center were added in early 2006.   In late 2006, Bon Secours partnered with Lakeview Medical Center to open the Mid-Atlantic Hearing and Balance Center.  The facility added an open-bore MRI in early 2007 and now offers advanced emergency care.

Bon Secours Health Center at Harbour View was awarded five-stars for outpatient surgery services and awarded their highest ward, a four-star award, for outpatient diagnostic services by the Professional Research Corporation (PRC) a national patient satisfaction.  For more information about Bon Secours Health Center at Harbour View visit: www.bshr.com.

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Bon Secours Hampton Roads Health System is a leading health care organization known for providing care for the whole person with grace and clinical distinction. Bon Secours brings together a network of hospitals, primary care practices, ambulatory care sites and continuing care facilities to provide quality health care services to the residents of Hampton Roads. Bon Secours, which employs more than 4,500, includes: Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center, Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center, Mary Immaculate Hospital, Bon Secours Health Center at Harbour View, Bon Secours Maryview Nursing Care Center and St. Francis Nursing Center.