UHC’s Skilled Nursing Unit Receives Platinum Level Designation in State MEDALS Program

WVU Medicine United Hospital Center (UHC) is honored to announce that its United Transitional Care Center (UTCC), has been awarded the platinum level of the MEDALS (Maximizing Efforts Dedicated to Antimicrobial Leadership and Stewardship) Program. This is the highest level of achievement in the program granted by the West Virginia Department of Health, as the initiative was launched in 2024 by the Department of Health’s Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services.

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria evolve and adapt to survive antibiotic treatment. The overuse of antibiotics is the leading cause of antibiotic resistance.

The MEDALS Program is designed to recognize long-term care facilities that demonstrate exemplary efforts in infection prevention and appropriate antibiotic use. Participating facilities are evaluated based on specific criteria across various levels of achievement, while highlighting their dedication to implementing effective strategies for infection control and antibiotic stewardship. This structured approach not only encourages continuous improvement but also sets a benchmark for excellence within the healthcare community. 

UTCC is a hospital-based skilled nursing facility that bridges the gap between high-tech hospitalization and family home care. The focus is on improving the patient’s health skills and ability to function within the community. Because the hospital-based skilled nursing facility is affiliated with an acute-care hospital, each patient receives optimal care from the full range of health care disciplines. Medicine, nursing, respiratory therapy, and other departments contribute to the patient’s progressive restoration to the highest achievable level of functioning.

“Antibiotic stewardship is an opportunity for physicians and pharmacists to work together to choose the correct antibiotic, at the correct dose, for an appropriate duration for each unique individual patient,” said Kevin Pritt, PharmD at UHC. “It was pioneered by Dr. Mark Povroznik a few decades ago but has only grown and expanded to reach new heights.”

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