Lompoc Health Wins Intalere Healthcare Achievement Award

Lompoc Health — North H Center has been named the winner of the Intalere Healthcare Achievement Award in the category of Community Impact and Innovation.

The Missouri-based Intalere is a national group purchasing organization which annually recognizes successful initiatives by its members to enhance quality and operations, improve patient satisfaction and increase community awareness and education.

Lompoc Health — North H Center received the honor for the retention of the large-scale medical practice at 1225 N. H St. after Sansum Multi-Specialty Clinic announced its plan to close the clinic. The Lompoc Valley Medical Center Board of Directors authorized the purchase of the building and the hiring of its staff for a transition that took place Jan. 2, 2019.

The opening of the rebranded Lompoc Health — North H Center enabled the Lompoc Valley community to have virtually uninterrupted access to primary care, pediatrics, specialty care and more.

North H Center Site Manager Sue Nooney and Nurse Manager Lennaya Smith traveled to Intalere’s national conference last week in Denver to accept the award.

Because of LVMC’s decision to rehire existing staff at the facility and offer professional service agreements to a majority of the existing and established physicians, more than 50 jobs remained in Lompoc.

Without LVMC’s acquisition of the clinic, thousands of patients would have had to travel to Sansum offices 30 to 50 miles away for even the most basic healthcare needs. LVMC also made the decision to hire additional medical providers; reopen previously closed laboratory services; provide space to Sansum for specialists such as podiatrists and accept a wider-range of HMOs and PPOs, as well as CenCal/Medi-Cal patients, than previously offered by Sansum.

The community impact aspect of the award was also bestowed for the decision by Lompoc Health to re-establish scheduled Urgent Care from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day at the building, significantly reducing Emergency Department overcrowding. Additionally, Sansum routinely referred its patients to its own clinics and specialists more than 50 miles away. Patients may now stay local for MRI/CT/PT/Lab and gastrointestinal services that otherwise would occur elsewhere.

“We feel very honored to be recognized by a national organization such as Intalere,” said Paul Fry, Lompoc Health Director of Ambulatory Services. “Lompoc Health and Intalere have the shared goal of improving healthcare delivery to communities such as Lompoc. Every day, I see the evidence of dedication among our providers and support staff. We have made some great strides in the last year, but there is still more to do. We have a deep appreciation for Intalere's leadership and focus on healthcare delivery and we are thrilled to be selected for their Healthcare Achievement Award.”

Other Community Impact winners this year were where located in Virginia, North Carolina and Indianapolis.

“Intalere members are making a positive impact every day on their patients and communities,” said Julius Heil, Intalere president, and CEO. “Putting into place new processes or undertaking new initiatives, no matter how large or small takes innovation, drive, and initiative that should be recognized and rewarded.”

LVMC Materials Management Director Neil Imano also accepted the Intalere award for “West Alliance of the Year.” Imano is chairman of Intalere’s Western Alliance of Healthcare Resources Affiliate Program.