Moon Twp., PA (June 12, 2009) – The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) recently honored Heritage Valley Health System with three Achievement Awards for 2009. The Achievement Awards honor innovation, creativity, and commitment to patient care through an annual program, which showcases hospital and health system best practices in a variety of areas. The award categories for 2009 included: workforce, community outreach and engagement, patient safety, patient care, and operational excellence. Fifteen winners were selected from 102 entries this year.

Heritage Valley was selected for the following achievement awards:

• Patient Safety—Heritage Valley Health System, Beaver—Six Sigma Approach to Reducing Vesicant Drug Extravasations.

• Operational Excellence—Heritage Valley Health System, Sewickley—Self-Service Technology Enables Streamlined Registration Process; Reduces Hospital Check-in Times, Waiting Times, and Costs.

• Innovation Award—Heritage Valley Health System, Sewickley—Self-Service Technology Enables Streamlined Registration Process; Reduces Hospital Check-in Times, Waiting Times, and Costs.

Representatives from HAP will present the awards to Heritage Valley at an upcoming Heritage Valley Health System Board of Directors meeting.

“This recognition by the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania is an honor and testament to the work that is performed by the staff at our health system each and every day,” said Norm Mitry, president and chief executive officer at Heritage Valley. “These achievement awards in innovation, operational excellence and patient safety demonstrate our commitment to better serve our patients and reflect the outstanding teamwork of our employees and medical staff, particularly in the areas of patient safety, information technology and laboratory services.”

About Heritage Valley Health System
Heritage Valley Health System provides comprehensive health care for residents of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties, in Pennsylvania; eastern Ohio; and the panhandle of West Virginia. In partnership with more than 400 physicians, Heritage Valley offers a broad range of medical, surgical and diagnostic services at its two hospitals, Heritage Valley Beaver and Heritage Valley Sewickley; in physician offices; and community satellite facilities. Additional information about Heritage Valley Health System is available online at www.heritagevalley.org.