Mercy Medical Center Redding and Mt. Shasta Recognized for Maternity and Opioid Care

REDDING, Calif. – (Feb. 2, 2021) Mercy Medical Center Redding and Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta earned honor roll recognition for their high performance in maternity care and commitment to appropriate opioid use by California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly and Cal Hospital Compare. Only thirty-two hospitals in the state met performance standards in both maternity and opioid care.

“Despite the challenges amidst a global pandemic, this recognition reflects the tireless efforts by our employees and physicians,” said Todd Smith, President, Mercy Medical Center Redding. “This recognition is a result of our continued commitment to combat the ongoing opioid crisis, and to provide the best care for our maternity patients,” added Rodger Page, President, Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta.

The 2020 Maternity Honor Roll recognizes 141 hospitals that met or surpassed the statewide target aimed at reducing births via c-section in first-time mothers with low-risk pregnancies. Reducing c-section rates starts with the culture of the hospital, involving changes to physician practice patterns, education of nurses, support staff and families, and implementation of new policies within the facility. Collaboration and communication among members of the clinical team are essential.

Cal Hospital Compare is releasing its first Opioid Care Honor Roll, recognizing 53 hospitals for their progress and performance promoting safe and effective opioid use, providing treatment for patients with opioid use disorder, and providing access to naloxone to prevent opioid overdoses.

Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta was recognized under “Superior Performance” criteria. Participating hospitals answered 8 questions across four key domains of care including safe and effective opioid use, identifying and treating patients with OUD, overdose prevention, and applying cross-cutting opioid management best practices. Twenty-five of 89 hospitals that applied achieved Superior Performance. Mercy Mt. Shasta qualified based on their opioid discharge prescribing guidelines, long-standing advanced alternatives to opioids for pain management, Medication Assisted Treatment Program, and cross cutting opioid management best practices.

In 2019, Mercy Medical Center Redding implemented the California Bridge Program that provides 24/7 treatment for substance use disorders. Through this program, when patients are suffering from withdrawal they will be offered a dose of medication such as buprenorphine to ease severe symptoms of withdrawal, and will then be connected with outpatient treatment in the community.

About Dignity Health North State

Mercy Medical Center Redding, St. Elizabeth Community Hospital in Red Bluff, and Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta are Dignity Health North State hospitals sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of Auburn. The hospitals are passionate about patient care, committed to community outreach, advocates for the underserved, and dedicated to delivering quality, affordable health services to those in need. The hospitals also offer a broad array of outpatient services and the senior services of Connected Living.  Visit www.mercy.org to learn more.