SALINAS, CA — October 28, 2013 – Natividad Medical Center (NMC)has been recognized by the Collaborative Alliance for Nursing Outcomes (CALNOC) with a 2013 Award for Sustained Excellence. CALNOC is a non-profit agency and the leading provider of actionable information and research on nursing sensitive indicators. This information helps hospital executives make decisions that advance improvement in patient care quality, safety, and outcomes. CALNOC will give out its awards at a conference this week.

Chosen from among 250 eligible CALNOC hospitals, NMC was recognized for its commitment and dedication to nursing quality by being selected for Best Performance in reducing HAPU II+ (Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcer stage II or higher) for the second year in a row. The performance period was from January 2011 to December 2012.

“Natividad Medical Center is honored to receive this recognition, as it directly reflects the commitment of the hospital and our nursing team to the high quality care that we deliver daily to our patients,” says Harry Weis, NMC’s Chief Executive Officer.

A pressure ulcer, sometimes called a bedsore, is an injury to the skin or underlying tissue, caused by pressure, friction and moisture. These ulcers often occur when patients have limited mobility and can’t change positions in bed on their own. Hospitals must pay special attention when pressure ulcers occur, they must be treated quickly or they can damage the skin and muscles, slow recovery, and cause pain, infection and other problems.

Hospital officials credit dedicated staff for NMC’s continuing success in this area.

“Jose Gasca, RN and Certified Wound Care Nurse is the Primary Pressure Ulcer Prevention Nurse at Natividad and is the Chair of the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Team,” says Sue Saunders, RN, MPA, and NMC’s Director of Nursing Education. “Through his efforts we were able to meet the standards required to receive this award.”

About Natividad Medical Center
Based in Salinas, Calif., Natividad Medical Center is a 172-bed, acute-care hospital providing health-care services to the Monterey County residents for more than 127 years. Owned and operated by the county, NMC offers inpatient, outpatient, emergency, diagnostic and specialty medical care. NMC provides more than 34,000 patient days each year and more than 47,000 emergency department visits per year. NMC is ranked No. 1 in newborn deliveries in Monterey County. It is the only teaching hospital on the Central Coast, through its affiliation with the University of California, San Francisco. With a medical staff of more than 228 physicians, NMC’s mission is to continually monitor and improve the health of the people, including the vulnerable, in Monterey County through coordinated, affordable, high quality health care.For more information, please call 831-755-4111 or visit https://www.natividad.com.