Carson Tahoe Helps Battle COVID-19 & Achieves Certification for CIHQ Acute Care Hospital and Primary Stroke Center

This year taught medical providers everywhere about their own resilience and dedication to the health & well-being of their communities. COVID-19 affected Carson Tahoe staff no differently, and it’s been a whirlwind of a year. With the dynamic nature of the pandemic, Carson Tahoe adjusted processes, rescheduled elective surgeries, and brought in more staff to handle the surge in COVID-19 patients.

Despite battling a pandemic and operating at near capacity for months, Carson Tahoe effectively managed to achieve reaccreditation by the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ). Additionally, Carson Tahoe received an early holiday surprise … the initial certification for Primary Stroke Center.

“There’s no question this year has presented us many challenges,” said Dr. Allen Fink, Carson Tahoe Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. “CIHQ performs accreditation surveys every three years, and this year ours just happen to fall in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. Gratefully, 2020 also presented us with many opportunities to grow, to serve our community, and to truly hone in and improve our safety and quality efforts.”

Established in 1999, the CIHQ is a membership-based organization comprised primarily of acute care and critical access hospitals. The purpose is to ensure its hospitals are effectively providing safe & quality patient care. According to its website, the CIHQ designation “demonstrates to patients, staff, and payers, that the care the hospital provides is a cut above the rest.”

Additionally, for the first time, Carson Tahoe earned the prestigious designation, as a CIHQ Primary Stroke Center. This certification is a disease-specific accreditation, which recognizes organizations for their implementation of evidence-based best practice to stroke patient populations.

“Our staff has diligently worked through a medical crisis, one we may (hopefully) see only once in a lifetime” Fink said. “The reality of going through a major accreditation, while battling COVID-fatigue, quickly pivoting to new processes to better address COVID-19, and improving safety and quality all at once is a momentous feat. We’re grateful to have such a talented and compassionate team dedicated to giving great quality care.” To learn more about Carson Tahoe Health, visit CarsonTahoe.com.