Hospital Serves Region. Changes Name.

By: E. Vargas

Effective in March, Cobre Valley Community Hospital will become Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center. The new name is a reflection of the region the hospital serves which includes customers and patients from Young, Kearny, Hayden, Winkleman, Superior, San Carlos, Tonto Basin, Roosevelt, Globe, and Miami.  CVCH has been experiencing regional expansion for the past several years with clinics established in Young, Superior, and Kearny.  CVCH has also recently added a Urologist, a Sleep Center, and is in the process of bringing in a full-time Oncologist and Cardiologist to the staff.

“In 2009, Cobre Valley Community Hospital continued to see growth despite the financial and economic challenges being faced throughout Arizona and the nation.  As we embark on 2010, the CVCH Board of Directors has outlined core strategies that will focus on continued growth, outstanding customer service and workforce development,” states Neal Jensen-CVCH CEO.  “This will lead to new services, new providers, and a continued focus on regional expansion.”

Some questions about the name modification are answered below:

What prompted the decision to modify the name of Cobre Valley Community Hospital to Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center? The modified name, Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center, is a reflection of the customers/patients we serve.  Our patients come from Young, Kearny, Hayden, Winkleman, Superior, San Carlos, Globe, and Miami. We have also expanded our clinical services to Young, Superior, and Kearny and want the name to encompass the region we serve.

Since you are adding the words “Regional Medical Center,” does this mean new services, more doctors, a bigger facility? Our healthcare facility is dedicated to bringing needed services to our region.  As our Medical Staff Development Plan calls for added services, we strive to bring a broader array of services to the region.  We have recently added a Urologist to the staff and are currently in the process of bringing a full-time Oncologist and Cardiologist to the staff.  Yes, as our services grow there are plans for a facility expansion, also.

Are you changing the name to change the image of the hospital? Our organization’s image is determined by the successes of our employees and how well they handle the healthcare for the people of the region we serve.  A name change does not enhance or impair the quality of service provided within the walls of our facility.  CVCH employees are compassionate and dedicated individuals who strive every hour of every day to make a difference in the health and well-being of the people in our region.

Why didn’t you change the words “Cobre Valley?” The word “Cobre” is Spanish for “copper.”  The communities of the region we serve exist because of the region’s long history of copper mining.  “Cobre Valley” was preserved to honor the commitment and fortitude of our copper miners and the natural resource of copper our region is known for world-wide.

When will the new name take affect? We are anticipating “Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center” to become official upon the arrival and completion of the large rock to be located just as you drive up to the hospital.  We anticipate this to happen about the second week of March, 2010.

Does a regional hospital have other access to grant funding? As we become more regional, the more possibilities of grant funding we can apply for.

Is some other hospital buying this hospital? No.  “Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center” is doing exceptionally well and will still be under the management of Brim Healthcare.

Is anyone being laid off? No.  This is strictly a name modification and will have no effect on employment.

Will my records be kept through the name modification? All records will remain intact. This name modification will have no effect on patient records.

The transition the hospital has gone through the past 100 years has been astounding:  From a “tent clinic” in 1910, a miner’s hospital in 1913, a community hospital in 1980, and today, a regional medical center. The accomplishments are a result of the dedicated and compassionate workforce the hospital has maintained throughout the years.  Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center is dedicated to continue its mission:  “To develop and maintain a healthcare delivery system that serves the region with quality, efficiency, and compassion.”