Your hospital. WELCOME.

At Salem Hospital and West Valley Hospital, we strive to improve the health and well-being of the people and communities we serve.

Three years ago, our long-range planning effort set a chart for the future. Each year since then, we have crafted our work plan to meet those long-range goals. We set high standards on core services, such as heart-attack care, and monitor our progress.

The Messenger is an important service we provide to you. The Messenger’s goal is to help you be an informed and confident healthcare consumer. We want to help you stay in a state of wellness, but if you do become ill, to learn about new approaches and information that can help.

In this issue of the Messenger, you can explore a number of healthcare topics, with a focus on stroke and obesity. We also offer simple tips you can use to help yourself, such as how to improve your hand hygiene.

As we say in our patient handbook, you are the first and most important member of your healthcare team. We’re happy to be here as a partner with you, your physician and other community groups.

Norm Gruber, President/CEO