Sentara operates more than 100 care giving sites, including seven acute care hospitals with a total of 1,728 beds, nine outpatient care facilities, seven nursing centers, three assisted living centers, nine advanced imaging centers and about 380 primary care and multi-specialty physicians. Sentara also offers a full range of award-winning health coverage plans, home health and hospice services, physical therapy and rehabilitation services, including Nightingale - the region’s first air ambulance service.
Sentara also is a national leader in heart and kidney care, stroke care, infection prevention and was the first in the nation to pioneer and develop the eICU®, a remote monitoring system for intensive care. Striving to improve the wellness of the community, Sentara continues to participate in national and international research trials as a means to increase the medical options available to patients well into the future.
Sentara Fast Facts
Sentara Community Benefits
More Information:
Measuring Quality Health care
Patient Safety
Commitment to the Community
Mission, Vision and Values
Sentara's Commitments to Its Patients
Sentara Historical Timeline
Measuring Quality Health Care
Since our health system’s earliest years, 120 years ago, we have believed the community deserves health care that is measurably better. The quality of health care is measured not merely by technology, because the latest equipment needs skilled, talented people to operate it.
What really matters is the result. Was the surgery successful? Was the outcome what you hoped for? Sentara's goal is to lead the industry to achieve top 10 percent performance wherever national benchmarks exist.
These results are the measures Sentara invites you to examine throughout our organization. You’ll find outcomes that soar above the national standards. Sentara reports nationally accepted quality measures on all seven Sentara hospitals. You'll find more information within the
Quality at Sentara section of this Web site.
Sentara has consistently ranked among the nation’s top integrated health care networks in
Modern Healthcare’s fact-based ranking. The study, which is published annually, highlights the top 100 integrated health care networks across the nation as selected by SDI, a health information company. (Verispan formerly published the ranking.) In 2009, SDI ranked
Sentara Healthcare fourth nationwide after examining nearly 600 networks. This was the twelfth year in a row that Sentara has been listed in the top 10 of the list.
Five Sentara programs ranked in the "Top 50" in the nation in the 2009
U.S. News & World Report America's Best Hospitals survey. Cardiac, kidney, diabetes and endocrine disorders, geriatric care and orthopedics all achieved a honors.
Back to Top
Sentara’s culture of safety focuses on error and injury reduction through simplified rules of behavior for everyone working in the environment of care, from physicians and nurses to dietary and housekeeping staff. The program is focused on Behavior Based Expectations (BBEs) for all staff and department-specific “Red Rules’ with the goal of preventing errors and delivering the highest quality patient care. These safety principles have been instituted throughout Sentara's integrated system of hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and Sentara Medical Group physician practices.
Sentara’s safety record has been recognized by several national organizations, including the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the National Quality Forum and the American Hospital Association.
The Joint Commission has given the Gold Seal of Approval and Disease Specific Care Certification to Sentara Nofolk General for vascular care. Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Sentara Leigh Hospital and Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital recieved the certification for stroke care. Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital received the certification for heart failure and acute myocardial infarction care. Read more about Sentara's quality care distinctions.
Sentara also takes pride in its record to reduce health care-associated infections, including ventilator-associated pneumonia and central line-related blood stream infections. Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center has prevented ventilator-assoicated pneumonia successfully for five years and is a national model for preventing the disease.
On another front, Sentara is committed to using technology to improve patient safety, such as the Sentara eCare® Health Network, a robust electronic health information system with built-in safety measures to prevent medical errors. It also provides easy access to electronic medical records for all Sentara specialists involved in a patient's care. Additionally, Sentara was the first in the nation to pioneer and develop the eICU®, a remote monitoring system for intensive care.
Back to Top
Commitment to the Community
Sentara’s bedrock institution was founded in 1888 in Norfolk as the 25-bed Retreat for the Sick. Today’s organization is truly an integrated healthcare system that provides patients with a cohesive and interlocking network of caregiving that spans from birth through the end of life.
As a not-for-profit healthcare organization, Sentara reinvests in the community in numerous ways - with the purchase of the most medically advanced technology; in new, state-of-the-art healthcare facilities; with training medical professionals and with providing the highest quality healthcare to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. It’s not just our mission, it’s our commitment to the community.
The Sentara Health Foundation The
Sentara Health Foundation was established in 1998 to improve the health and quality of life throughout southeastern Virginia and North Carolina, and to further demonstrate the Sentara not-for-profit mission.
The Foundation has touched the lives of many area residents from the Eastern Shore to Greater Hampton Roads through grants supporting community programs. Our charge is to identify community health-related needs and enable solutions, with a primary focuse on access to basic health care services, improved pregnancy outcomes, coalition building and services for the frail and at-risk elderly.
Specifically, the Sentara Health Foundation has awarded more than
$5.2 million in grants, serving more than 367,000 people since its inception. Programs include mobile dental care, prenatal support, medication assistance and reduced-cost primary care. The foundation also sponsors community events, such as the Komen Tidewater Race for the Cure and the American Heart Association Heart Gala and Heart Walk.
The Foundation promotes coordination and cooperation among organizations and agencies focusing on the health of the community, encouraging synergism and avoiding duplication. We seek to identify health-related problems and unknown needs addressed by integrated solutions.
Sentara Healthcare also relies on the philanthropy of the community to support these invaluable programs and services.
Charitable contributions may be made through the Sentara Health Foundation to support efforts to improve health every day in our region.
In Support of the Community Led by a volunteer community board of directors, Sentara proudly provides care to all people regardless of their ability to pay. As a not-for-profit healthcare organization, Sentara reinvests in the community in numerous ways.
Contributions Each year, Sentara provides millions of dollars in benefits to the community. In 2008, Sentara provided approximately $157.8 million in benefits to the community, including $137.5 million in uncompensated patient care, $16.7 million in support of medical education and training, and $3.7 million in community health programs and donations. That equals more than $432,000 for each day in 2008.
Sentara employees provide annual contributions to the United Way, and numerous employees volunteer for “work crews” at United Way agencies for the annual Day of Caring.
Sentara is committed to providing quality health care to all, regardless of ability to pay. Under Sentara’s charity care policies, patients meeting certain financial criteria receive care without charge or with a significant discount. Sentara has also provided 16 percent of the total uncompensated care delivered in Virginia. This donation of resources far exceeded the contributions of other providers.
Medical Underserved Sentara’s medical groups’ physicians and medical staffs volunteer thousands of hours to Eastern Virginia Medical School, area free clinics, community education and civic and charitable programs. Sentara’s priority is to open doors of access to basic health care that many Americans take for granted. For example poor dental health, one of the community’s greatest health needs, is being addressed through the area’s Dental Health Coalition, which is creating healthy smiles for people in the region.
Sentara supports and operates (uncompensated care clinics) throughout the region such as the Sentara Ambulatory Care Center. The ACC is a collaborative effort with Eastern Virginia Medical School and is located near Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. The ACC sees thousands of patients a year, and requires millions of dollars annually in operating subsidies by Sentara Norfolk General. It features an appointed side, which functions just like a doctor’s office and a same-day “walk-in” service side for more pressing and immediate health concerns. The appointed side offers a host of clinics available on a rotating basis throughout the week. The walk-in side functions like an urgent care center.
In Support of Education ExploreHealth with Sentara As part of our commitment to bringing you the latest in health information, Sentara offers
ExploreHealth with Sentara®, an educational program that explores medical breakthroughs, innovative treatment options and contemporary health issues in our community.
Program components include:
Watch patient stories and physician interview videos at the
Sentara Video Center for quick viewing of information that's important to you and your health concerns. Search by health topic or physician name.
Bimonthly newspaper publication featuring new medical breakthroughs and health information and a monthly calendar of events and screenings held in your neighborhood.
Live surgery webcasts and and On-Demand editions of surgery webcasts take you inside Sentara operating rooms for the latest surgical techniques and innovations.
Monthly eNewsletter delivered right to your email
Dedicated
ExploreHealth with Sentara® Web page where you can view any On-Demand webcast and health segments, look up past editions of
ExploreHealth with Sentara print articles, and find out additional health information.
ExploreHealth with Sentara Center located in Virginia Beach for on-site educational programs and services
In Support of Community Health Initiatives Sentara Community Health and Prevention
As part of Sentara’s commitment to preventive health measures, we present
special community health initiatives that are designed to educate the community about issues affecting our health, right here at home. Sentara promotes information campaigns such as:
Eating for Life, a nutrition and healthy eating program
Know Your Numbers, a cardiovascular risk reduction and health improvement program
Walk-About with Healthy Edge, a walking program that encourages walking for cardiovascular health
Get Off Your Butt: Stay Smokeless for Life, a smoking cessation program
Healthy Heart Program, a cardiovascular disease reduction program
Sentara Living, a comprehensive wellness program for seniors
Sentara's Mobile Mammography Unit The unit visits many work sites every year. Bringing health screenings to work sites helps encourage wellness and produce positive outcomes for the patients we serve. Screenings, such as mammograms, support early detection and, often, more successful treatment of breast cancer. Appointments can take as little as 15 minutes.
Sentara's Health Plans In 1984, Sentara founded the first managed care plan, Optima Health in Hampton Roads. With more than 25 years of health insurance experience, Optima’s goal is to be a provider that promotes better health, is easy to use and is a great value.
Better Health
With an expanding membership, Optima Health offers a full suite of commercial products including consumer directed, employee-owned and employer-sponsored plans, individual and family health plans, employee assistance plans and plans serving Medicare and Medicaid enrollees.
We offer programs to support members with chronic illnesses, customized wellness programs, and integrated clinical and behavioral health services
– all to help our members improve their health. Wherever we serve our members, Optima stands out through our passion for health and service excellence.
Easy To Use
Optima offers user-friendly customer service, claims processing and problem solving. Members can expect personal service from enrollment to member services to renewal. We provide fast and accurate claim payments, so members spend less time following up on claim issues.
A Great Value
Optima offers a broad spectrum of innovative products and service solutions designed for employers, employees and their families. Progressive plan designs encourage greater employee participation in healthcare decisions and can reduce administrative costs while improving service quality.
Better-informed employees make better decisions. Our members have access to doctors and hospitals with nationally recognized clinical programs, up-to-date preventive care and patient safety protocols, plus the latest medical procedures and technologies.
Back to TopMission
We improve health every day.
Vision Be the healthcare choice of the communities we serve.
Looking Ahead
To assure this, we constantly seek ways to expand and enhance our services. It’s why we aggressively recruit physicians and staff with exceptional skills and standards. It means pursuing research and clinical trials, so the latest methods will be available to our patients first. Maintaining superior results also requires new facilities, which we build, as need dictates.
Delivering the Highest Quality Outcomes Sentara has a commitment to grow as one of the nation’s leading healthcare organizations by creating innovative systems of care that help people achieve and maintain their best possible state of health. We will focus, plan and act on our commitments to our community mission, to our customers and to the highest quality standards of healthcare to achieve our vision for the future.
Building for the Future The next decade will be characterized by inspiring growth and change – all dedicated to improving the health of our community and our patients. Read more about
Upcoming Facilities online.
Back to Top
While Sentara has been known for its quality and safety excellence across the nation, our patients expect us to show we care as much about their health care experience as we care for them clinically. Togetherness, exceptional safety, quality and customer service define an extraordinary health care experience.
Sentara commits to:
Always keep you safe
Always treat you with dignity, respect and compassion
Always listen and respond to you
Always keep you informed and involved
Always work together as a team to provide you quality healthcare
Back to Top