Catawba Valley Medical Center

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Catawba Valley Medical Center

Catawba Valley Health System in Hickory, N.C., is the region’s largest not-for-profit health system. hospitals.

Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory, N.C., is the region’s largest not-for-profit, public healthcare system and serves the community without direct funding from taxes. CVMC provides and promotes physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being of the public in addition to serving as a center for health education, wellness services, preventive medicine and acute care. CVMC has received five Magnet designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and has been recognized recently with 10 Women’s Choice Awards, including being named one of America’s Best 100 Hospitals for Patient Experience and having a 2020 Patient Safety score that ranks among the top 2% or all U.S. For more information, please visit www.catawbavalleyhealth.org.

11/24/2025

Join us in congratulating our November C.A.R.E Award Recipient – Stephanie Morton! Stehpanie serves as a Charge Nurse in our Surgical department.

“I am honored to nominate Stephanie for this award in recognition of their exceptional dedication, compassion, and professionalism. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure patients receive the highest quality of care. Stephanie treats every patient with genuine kindness, empathy, and respect, creating an environment where people feel safe, supported, and valued. Her commitment to excellence truly embodies the spirit of nursing,” according to Stephanie’s nominator.

The C.A.R.E Award is given monthly to a Catawba Valley Health System employee who has exhibited Courtesy, Attitude, Respect, and Enthusiasm throughout their work.

To learn more about becoming one of the exceptional team members who work at CVHS, visit our careers page at CatawbaValleyHealth.org/Careers.

11/19/2025

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. It’s a time to focus on education, prevention, and supporting the many individuals and families impacted by diabetes every day.

Our Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) program continues to make a meaningful difference in our community. Participants in our program see an average A1C reduction of 0.9%, compared to the national average of 0.6%. This improvement reflects the value of education, guidance, and support in helping people take control of their health.

Here are a few things participants have shared when asked what they liked best about the program:

“It was comprehensive, educational and the instructors were knowledgeable and super friendly.” — Barbara R.

“You presented items that I had never considered might help me in treating my diabetes.” — Jill L.

“You guys taught us a lot on what to do and what to eat to help lower our blood sugar levels and A1C. Lots of conflicting information on the internet, and it was helpful to go to a place where they could fact check us and provided in-depth education.” — Ryan S.

In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled. Recognizing symptoms early is essential, because early detection and treatment can lower the risk of complications.

Some common symptoms of diabetes include urinating often, feeling very thirsty, feeling very hungry even while eating regularly, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, cuts or bruises that are slow to heal, weight loss even while eating more (often seen in type 1), and tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands or feet (often seen in type 2). These symptoms can sometimes be mild or easy to overlook, which is why awareness is so important.

For more information about diabetes education, resources, and support, visit CatawbaValleyHealth.org/Diabetes.

11/17/2025

Leaders from Catawba Valley Health System attended the North Carolina Clinician and Physician Retention and Well-Being (NCCPRW) Consortium meeting last week, joining hospital teams and partners from across the state. CVHS remains committed to ensuring our health system is the best place to work and practice medicine, and participating in statewide collaboration is an important part of that mission.

The NCCPRW Consortium is dedicated to supporting the well-being of North Carolina’s clinical professionals. The group focuses on reducing stress, improving retention, promoting well-being, and creating healthier work environments so clinicians can thrive both in their careers and in their lives.

We’re honored to take part in this important work that strengthens support for our care teams and improves the future of healthcare in our state. To learn more about how CVHS supports its employees and fosters a positive work environment, visit CatawbaValleyHealth.org/Careers.

11/13/2025

Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) has received an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group for Fall 2025. This national distinction recognizes CVMC’s achievements in protecting patients from preventable harm and error in the hospital, as well as meeting the highest safety standards in the United States.

CVMC earned the only ‘A’ grade for the Unifour region (Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba). This marks the 18th ‘A’ grade for safety that CVMC has received in Leapfrog’s last 19 reporting periods. Grades are updated in the fall and spring.

The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an ‘A,’ ‘B,’ ‘C,’ ‘D,’ or ‘F’ grade to general hospitals across the country based on national performance measures reflecting errors, injuries, accidents and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm. Results are updated each fall and spring. Less than one-third of all U.S. hospitals achieve an ‘A’ grade.

Michelle Lusk, Chief Nursing Officer of Catawba Valley Health System, said, “This is the highest scoring ‘A’ grade that CVHS has achieved in the last five years and it is thanks to our employees, medical staff and leaders who put patient safety as the highest priority. Safety and quality must be the top priorities in a healthcare setting, and we’re so proud to show this region our commitment to this above all else. Only 12 percent of eligible hospitals achieve this score.”

“Achieving an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade reflects enormous dedication to patient safety,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “I extend my congratulations to Catawba Valley Medical Center, its leadership, clinicians, staff and volunteers for creating a culture where patients come first.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harms to patients. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses over 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to nearly 3,000 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public at HospitalSafetyGrade.org.

11/12/2025

Recently, more than 160 healthcare professionals, educators, policymakers, and community advocates gathered at Moretz Mills in Hickory for our Addiction Medicine Summit, hosted by Catawba Valley Medical Center in partnership with Catawba County Public Health.

The event featured an impressive lineup of experts, including Dr. Stephen Holt from Yale School of Medicine, along with Dr. Alicia Howard and Dr. Cassandra Lilli from Catawba Valley Medical Center, who led dynamic sessions on the treatment of opioid use disorder, the psychiatry of addiction, and innovative approaches to care.

Throughout the day, attendees explored the complexities of addiction, shared best practices, and strengthened partnerships aimed at supporting recovery and improving community health.

A heartfelt thank you to our speakers, attendees, and community partners—especially Catawba County Public Health—for helping make this event such a success. Together, we’re building a more compassionate and informed approach to addressing addiction in our region.

To learn more about Catawba Valley Medical Center and our commitment to providing comprehensive healthcare to all, visit our website at CatawbaValleyHealth.org.

11/11/2025

In honor of Veterans Day on November 11, we pay tribute to all American veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime. And for those who have now chosen to strengthen CVHS with their dedication and expertise, we are grateful to work alongside you each day.

Today and every day, we’re grateful for all those who have served. Happy Veterans Day!

11/10/2025

We’re excited to shine a well-deserved spotlight on Katie Fulbright, CVMC’s Student Experience Coordinator, and Misty Oxentine, CVMC’s Director of Nursing Education. These two leaders recently represented Catawba Valley Health System at the SENSES Conference on October 23, 2025, where they presented their session, “An Innovative Approach to Recruit, Support and Retain New Graduate Nurses.” Their presentation highlighted the strategic, compassionate work happening behind the scenes to strengthen our pipeline of future healthcare professionals—and the systems in place to support them long after they choose CVHS as their home.

Katie’s impact can be seen every day in the way she helps students discover and pursue careers in healthcare. She coordinates thousands of student rotation hours each year and oversees important programs such as Camp Med, the Rise Program, and the HealthCareer Summer Intern Program. In just the past year, she placed more than 900 students across our organization—an impressive accomplishment that reflects her dedication, creativity, and commitment to helping young people explore meaningful clinical pathways.

Misty’s leadership is equally vital, guiding new graduates through a thoughtful and effective orientation process that helps students transition seamlessly into employment. Working closely with her team — Shannon Passman and Beth Rudisill — she ensures that new nurses receive the mentorship, support, and sense of belonging they need to feel confident and prepared from their very first day. This intentional approach makes a significant difference in long-term retention and overall professional growth.

Together, Katie and Misty embody our commitment to developing strong, supported, and inspired healthcare professionals. Their combined efforts help strengthen our workforce, enrich our organizational culture, and ensure exceptional care for our community—today and for years to come.

We’re incredibly grateful for everything they do and proud to have them as part of our Organizational Learning team. To learn more about Catawba Valley Medical Center, visit CatawbaValleyHealth.org.

11/03/2025

Last week, a commemorative plaque was placed at Catawba Valley Family Medicine – Viewmont in honor of Dr. Neel H Bronnenberg — a physician whose legacy helped shape healthcare in Catawba County.

Dr. Bronnenberg came to Hickory in 1960 after completing residencies in Indiana and Florida and a fellowship at Johns Hopkins. He became the first OB/GYN in Catawba County and served women and families for 29 years, maintaining The Women’s Clinic for nearly three decades.

He was known not only for his medical expertise, but also for his community involvement — serving with Hospice of Catawba Valley (now Carolina Caring), Hickory Museum of Art, the Hickory Romeo Club, Piedmont Educational Foundation, Hickory Rotary Club, and the Fraternal Order of Masons. He was also an active member of First Presbyterian, where he served as a deacon.

His children — Jeff Bronnenberg and Lynne Emken — joined us for the occasion as we honored their father’s legacy and placed this permanent recognition in the Viewmont office.

A special thank you to the Catawba Medical Foundation for coordinating the presentation of this plaque and helping ensure Dr. Bronnenberg’s contributions are remembered in such a meaningful way.

Dr. Bronnenberg’s commitment to women’s health and to the people of Hickory continues to leave a lasting impact — and we are proud his legacy now has a permanent home at CVFM-Viewmont

10/31/2025

Step right up for a day at the fair — CVMC’s tiniest patients are stealing the show!

Happy Halloween from our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)! This year’s theme is A Visit to the County Fair, featuring our adorable little farmers, prize-winning veggies, barnyard animals, and even sweet (and savory!) fair treats like cotton candy and hot dogs.

Which part of the county fair is your favorite — the food, the animals, or the rides?

To learn more about CVMC’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, visit CatawbaValleyHealth.org/NICU.

10/27/2025

Love is always worth celebrating, especially here at Catawba Valley Medical Center.

On October 15, Josie West and Ryan Callaway exchanged vows right in our Birthing Center. Their color scheme of purple and yellow set the tone for a joyful day. To make the celebration even more memorable, our nurses got creative and fashioned their yellow gowns into unique “bridesmaids” dresses, showing just how much heart and compassion they bring to every moment of care.

Josie has been with us as an antepartum patient for quite some time, building strong bonds with the caregivers who have walked alongside her through this journey. It was a privilege for our team to help create a wedding day filled with happiness, love, and support.

Please join us in congratulating the newlyweds and wishing them a lifetime of joy, strength, and sweet memories together.

To learn more about the comprehensive care and support available for women and children at Catawba Valley Health System, visit CatawbaValleyHealth.org/WomenChildren.

Address

810 Fairgrove Church Road SE
Hickory, NC
28602

Telephone

+18283263000

Website

http://www.catawbavalleyhealth.org/

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Our Story

Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) in Hickory, NC, is the region’s largest not-for-profit, public healthcare system serving the community without direct funding from taxes. CVMC provides and promotes physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being in addition to serving as a center for health education, wellness, preventive medicine and acute care. CVMC received a fourth consecutive Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 2014. WomenCertified® has recognized CVMC with Women’s Choice Awards for America’s Best 100 Hospitals for Patient Experience 2012-2017; America’s Best 100 Hospitals for Patient Safety 2017-2018; America’s Best Hospitals for Obstetrics 2013-2018; America’s Best Hospitals in Cancer Care 2017-2018; America’s Best Hospitals for Bariatric Surgery 2016-2018; America’s Best Hospitals in Orthopedics 2018; and America’s Best Breast Centers in 2018. For more information, please visit www.catawbavalleyhealth.org