About YRMC

  • Dignity Health Yavapai Regional hosts grand opening of new primary care clinic

    by Sara (Baird) Patterson, Manager | Social Media, (602) 406-3312 | Sep 27, 2024
    (Prescott, Ariz. – Sept. 24, 2024) - Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Group held the grand opening of a new primary care clinic in Prescott last Thursday. The Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Group Clinic at Lee Boulevard, which officially opened to patients on Aug. 28, will expand access to quality health care and bring an innovative patient care model to the community.

    The 10,000-square-foot facility is located near Highway 69 and North Lee Boulevard, and is home to four primary care physicians dedicated to providing individualized care to those in the Quad Cities.

    “Our team is committed to implementing innovative ways to meet our patients' health care needs,” said Kalie Valencia, president of physician enterprise for the Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Group. “In this new clinic space, patients can expect a more personalized visit with their provider and medical team. The new care model allows for evaluations like blood pressure and weight to be taken inside individual patient rooms instead of in a more public environment with the goal of delivering patient-centered care.”

    Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center clinics were first introduced to the community in 2009 and have since evolved to deliver medical solutions to the expanding families in the greater-Prescott area.

    “We pride ourselves on providing care close to home to growing families right in their neighborhoods,” said Dr. Anthony Torres, president and CEO of Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center. “I started my career in Prescott as a primary care provider and I am incredibly proud to remain part of the team that continues to contribute to the health of our community, and I look forward to the ways we continue to help Prescott flourish in the years to come.”

  • Abnormal heartbeats may be more common in younger adults than previously thought

    by Abby Kay (Friedemann), External Communications Specialist, Dignity Health in Arizona, (602) 406-4734 | Sep 20, 2024
    Young adults encouraged to take charge of their heart health during AFib Awareness Month

    (Prescott, Ariz. - Sept. 20, 2024) – A recent U.S. study reveals atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that causes irregular heartbeats, may be more common in younger adults than previously thought. AFib is typically found in adults over the age of 65, and these new findings are leading heart experts to urge younger adults to take charge of their heart health now.

    “AFib is a serious heart condition that can lead to stroke and heart failure if left untreated,” said Nisha Tung-Takher, MD, an electrophysiologist with Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Group. “It’s essential for all adults to be in-tune with their heart health and not brush off symptoms that may lead to a bigger issue down the road.”

    The national study, conducted by the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, analyzed electronic medical records of more than 67,000 patients across 40 hospitals between 2010 and 2019 who sought care for AFib. Of that group of patients, more than a quarter of them were under the age of 65 according to the study. Historically, cardiovascular experts only believed 2 percent of AFib patients were under the age of 65.

    “There are several risk factors that contribute to AFib, and more research needs to be done to determine why we are seeing an increase in young AFib patients,” said Dr. Tung-Takher. “However, we do know that a person’s lifestyle plays a huge role in their heart health.”

    AFib causes the upper chambers of a person’s heart to beat quickly and irregularly. Oftentimes AFib symptoms such as heart palpitations, dizziness, and shortness of breath can be triggered by lifestyle habits such as excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption, poor diet, lack of exercise and smoking.

    “A patient can’t change their family history, but they can take steps toward living a healthier lifestyle,” said Dr. Tung-Takher. “By making these changes earlier in adulthood, patients can help reduce their risk of living with AFib down the road.”

    The James Family Heart Center at Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center is home to a team of experts who use advanced technology to treat local residents with a wide variety of cardiovascular ailments. The center’s arrhythmia program is designed to identify and treat patients suffering from abnormal heart beats with individualized care close to home.

  • Global IT Outage Information

    by Carmelle Malkovich, Director of External Communications, Dignity Health in Arizona, (602) 406-3319 | Jul 19, 2024

    Like many other organizations and industries, some Dignity Health facilities have been affected by the global IT outage affecting computer systems caused by a third party software update.  

    All our hospitals remain open and our staff continues to provide safe, high-quality care to our patients. We thank everyone for their patience as our teams take immediate action to restore any impacted systems. For questions about scheduled appointments, patients are encouraged to contact their medical provider's office. 

  • Dignity Health and Aetna® Reach Agreement

    by Carmelle Malkovich, Director of External Communications, Dignity Health in Arizona, (602) 406-3319 | Apr 29, 2024

    April 25, 2024 - Dignity Health and Aetna, a CVS Health Company, have reached agreement on a new, multi-year contract that allows Aetna members to maintain in-network access to Dignity Health services, facilities and providers in Arizona, California and Nevada. The effective date of the new agreement is April 1 and health care services received by Aetna members since April 1 will be covered at the members’ in-network benefit levels.

    “This is a win for our patients who deserve access to local high-quality care,” said Kalie Valencia, President of Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Group. “Our goal in working with Aetna has always been about ensuring we can meet the needs of our patients today and in the future. This agreement ensures we can continue to provide value-driven care for Aetna members.”

    “We are committed to serving Aetna members with access to quality, convenient, affordable care through our network of providers,” said Cathy Hughes, Aetna vice president and chief network officer for the Western and South Central region. “We are pleased to reach an agreement with Dignity Health that enables us to continue working together to meet the health care needs of our members.”  

    Aetna members can call the number on their Aetna member card for more information.

  • Statement from Dignity Health regarding contract negotiations with Aetna

    by Carmelle Malkovich, Director of External Communications, Dignity Health in Arizona, (602) 406-3319 | Apr 05, 2024

    Over the last several months, Dignity Health has been working in good faith to reach a new, responsible contract agreement with Aetna that puts patients first, and keeps Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Group (YRMG) in-network for Aetna members. 

    Despite our best efforts, we have not yet been able to reach an agreement. As a result, beginning Friday, April 5, Dignity Health YRMG is no longer considered part of Aetna’s network. Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center remains in-network. 

    Aetna patients in active treatment may be eligible for continuity of care benefits. Patients can obtain a Transition Coverage Request form (continuity of care) on the Aetna website or by calling Aetna using the phone number on the back of their insurance card.

    Our organization relies on fair contracts to help us cover normal increases in the cost of providing high-quality care. Inflation has increased costs substantially and has created serious challenges for not-for-profit health care providers like us throughout Arizona and across the nation. 

    We do not underestimate our responsibility as Yavapai County’s major provider of high-quality health care services. Our patients and the community are at the center of everything we do, and we recognize the inconvenience this situation creates. 

    Although our contract with Aetna has ended, we are continuing to work in the best interests of our patients in hopes of reaching a new agreement with Aetna as soon as possible. 

    We encourage patients to call 877-729-2669 or visit www.dignityhealth.org/aetna to stay informed about their coverage including continuity of care.

  • Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Group and Aetna in Negotiations

    by Carmelle Malkovich, Director of External Communications, Dignity Health in Arizona, (602) 406-3319 | Apr 03, 2024

    Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Group (YRMG) was notified this afternoon that Aetna’s interpretation of the jointly agreed upon negotiation extension period will conclude at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, rather than on Friday, April 5 at 11:59 p.m. as previously stated. 

    We remain hopeful that we will reach a resolution with Aetna that benefits those we serve right here in our community, and we greatly appreciate the community’s patience and support as we work toward reaching a fair and balanced agreement. 

    This current negotiation only affects Yavapai Regional Medical Group in Yavapai County, as Yavapai Regional Medical Center remains in-network and is not part of this negotiation. 

    Yavapai Regional Medical Group patients should continue to work with their physicians regarding plans for care. We encourage patients to call 877-729-2669 or visit www.dignityhealth.org/aetna to stay informed about their coverage including continuity of care.

  • Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Group and Aetna in Negotiations

    by Deb Engel | Apr 01, 2024

    Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Group (YRMG) and Aetna have jointly agreed to extend the negotiation period to Friday, April 5 at 11:59 p.m. This will allow Aetna-insured patients to maintain in-network access to YRMG services and providers through Friday, April 5. 

    We remain hopeful that we will reach a resolution with Aetna that benefits those we serve right here in our community. We greatly appreciate the community’s patience and support as we work toward reaching a fair and balanced agreement with Aetna. 

    This negotiation only affects Yavapai Regional Medical Group in Yavapai County. It does not affect Yavapai Regional Medical Center. 

    We encourage patients to call 877-729-2669 or visit www.dignityhealth.org/aetna to stay informed about their coverage, including continuity of care.

  • Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center Names its 2023 Acts of Humankindness Award Winners

    by Lorette Brashear, Communications Specialist, Dignity Health – Yavapai Regional Medical Center, Prescott, Arizona, 928.771.5738 | Nov 15, 2023

    (PRESCOTT – November 15, 2023) – Yavapai Regional Medical Center recently honored its recipients of the prestigious Acts of Humankindness Award for 2023. This national award, presented annually by CommonSpirit Health, recognizes individuals who have made an extraordinary impact on the lives of their patients and colleagues, embodying the true spirit of the CommonSpirit mission.

    The recipients are:

    • Patricia Kaawaloa - RN, Post Anesthesia Care Unit
    • Mavis "Taylor" Cooper - RN, Cardiac Catheterization Services
    • Melissa Goldman - RN, Educator, Inservice Education – Nursing
    • Cindy Mares - RN, Post Anesthesia Care Unit
    • Phillip Tran - Physician, Cardiology
    • Bill Anders – RN, Education Coordinator, Inservice Education – Nursing
    • William DePetro - Nuclear Med Technologist II, Nuclear Medicine

    The colleagues who nominated the honorees wrote about their sincerity, gentleness, and compassion; offering a warm hug and listening ear after the loss of a patient or a loved one; going the extra mile for a patient or co-worker; and a true commitment to the education of their patients and coworkers.

    “These are people who go above and beyond what compassionate care looks like,” says Heather Richards, HR Business Partner at Yavapai Regional. “Their true commitment to the well-being of their patients and colleagues is what drives them to make a difference every day. It’s also what creates a real sense of community here at Yavapai Regional.”

    More than 100 people were nominated throughout Yavapai Regional Medical Center – an indication of the many extraordinary ways in which humankindness is shared in the lives of Yavapai Regional patients and coworkers.

    For more information about Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center, visit yrmc.org.

  • Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center launches  its new Mobile Clinic with a Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

    by Lorette Brashear, Communications Specialist, Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center, Prescott, Arizona, 928.771.5738 | Nov 06, 2023

    (Prescott – November 6, 2023) Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) is hitting the road…with a brand-new Mobile Clinic to serve its Partners for Healthy Students (PHS) program. The 38-foot, state-of-the-art Mobile Clinic is a gift to our community from the generosity of YRMC Foundation donors.

    "For more than two decades, community support has been key to the continued growth and success of our Partners for Healthy Students program,” says John Goodenow, Chief Philanthropy Officer, Southwest Division - YRMC Foundation. “Indeed, the new mobile clinic was funded entirely through the generosity of our donor community."

    You are invited to join YRMC for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to launch the new Mobile Clinic on Friday, November 17th from 11 a.m. to 12 noon in front of the YRMC East Campus in Prescott Valley. Tours of the new mobile clinic will also be available on November 17th at YRMC East from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

    The new Mobile Clinic boasts a re-designed floor plan with comfort, safety, and efficiency as the top priorities. Improved Wi-Fi, an updated refrigerator and freezer for vaccines, and heavy-duty tires for rural travel are just a few of the new features. The ability to hit the road with children’s healthcare services continues to allow the medical team to offer no-cost healthcare at schools in rural areas such as Mayer, Kirkland, and Paulden. But that’s just a small part of the services offered by PHS. The program also has two on-site, school-based health clinics. Combined, the school-based clinics and mobile clinic serve more than 50 schools in the Quad City area, including public, private, and charter schools.

    “This is no-cost, comprehensive healthcare for children of working-class families,” says Amy Negovan, Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and Program Director for Partners for Healthy Students. “Healthy kids make better learners. Scheduling and transportation are often difficult for these families. With Partners for Healthy Students, the child is right there at school and can go right back to their classroom.”

    “It’s an honor to play my part in helping ensure that our children are growing and developing in a healthy way,” says Negovan. “I love what I do. And it’s so gratifying to have such wonderful support from our community.”

    For more information about Partners for Healthy Students, including locations and eligibility requirements, visit yrmc.org or call (928) 771-5662.

  • Dignity Health in Arizona honored by the American Medical Association for promoting well-being of health care workers

    by Carmelle Malkovich, Director of External Communications, Dignity Health in Arizona, 602.406.3319 | Oct 06, 2023

    (October 6, 2023) - Dignity Health in Arizona has earned recognition from the American Medical Association (AMA) as a Joy in Medicine™ recognized organization. The prestigious AMA distinction is granted only to organizations that attest to the rigorous criteria of the Joy in Medicine™ Health System Recognition Program and demonstrate a commitment to preserving the well-being of clinical care team members through proven efforts to combat work-related stress and burnout.

    "We are honored to receive this prestigious award by the American Medical Association," says Heather Rabin, PhD, senior advisor of wellbeing and professional development for Dignity Health’s Southwest Division. "It's critical that health care systems identify all levels of burnout amongst their medical teams and effectively address any distress levels and increase professional fulfillment. The Dignity Health Arizona market is accomplishing this in a number of ways, including the establishment of a peer support program that provides physicians an opportunity to better connect with their peers and navigate challenging circumstances together in a culture of trust, support and collegiality. We look forward to creating additional programs that will further enhance the professional well-being of medical staff."

    Burnout rates among the nation’s physicians and other health care professionals spiked dramatically as the COVID-19 pandemic placed acute stress on care teams and exacerbated long-standing system issues. While the worst days of the pandemic have past, the lingering impact of work-related burnout remains an obstacle to achieving national health goals.

    “Health organizations that have earned recognition from the AMA’s Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program are leading a national movement that has declared the well-being of health professionals to be an essential element for providing high-quality care to patients, families, and communities,” said AMA President Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, M.D., M.P.H. “Each Joy in Medicine recognized organization is distinguished as among the nation’s best at creating a culture of wellness that makes a difference in the lives of clinical care teams.”

    "The goal of the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program is to unite the health care community in building a nationwide culture committed to the well-being of clinical care teams by helping health organizations invest in action plans promoting professional fulfillment and meaning that clinicians find in caring for their patients,” said Christine Sinsky, M.D., AMA vice president of professional satisfaction. 

    Since its inception in 2019, the Joy in Medicine™ Health System Recognition Program has recognized more than 100 organizations across the country. In 2023, a total of 72 health systems nationwide earned recognition with documented efforts to reduce system-level drivers of work-related burnout and demonstrated competencies in commitment, assessment, leadership, efficiency of practice environment, teamwork, and support.

    Learn more about the AMA Joy in Medicine™ Health System Recognition Program at ama-assn.org/joyinmedicine. 

  • Dignity Health YRMC Launches Next Generation Robotic Knee Replacement Surgery

    by Carmelle Malkovich, Director of External Communications, Dignity Health in Arizona, 602.406.3319 | May 04, 2023
    (PRESCOTT, Ariz. – May 4, 2023) – Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center
    (YRMC) is the first hospital in Arizona to provide a robotic-assisted total knee replacement
    surgery using an innovative technology that uses intraoperative data that is unique to each

    patient.

    “Every knee is different and every person who requires knee replacement surgery is different,” says Anthony V. Torres, MD, FACP, president and CEO, Dignity Health YRMC. “This new robotic platform recognizes those differences and allows orthopedic surgeons to tailor the surgery with more precision. It is a tremendous step forward in total knee replacement with advanced technology.”

    The VELYS TM Robotic-Assisted Solution technology is designed with an infrared camera and optical trackers to gather data about the patient’s knee. The surgeon utilizes real-time data input and controls the robotic device to remove damaged bone. The implant placement and fit is personalized to the patient’s specific anatomy.

    Robotic-assisted knee replacements may offer patients less pain, improved range of motion, and a faster recovery—which typically means a quicker return to daily activities that were hampered by chronic joint issues.

    “This level of surgical innovation changes lives,” says Dr. Torres. “It will offer numerous opportunities for people who have endured knee pain, some for a long time. Our team is delighted to make this procedure available in our communities and throughout Arizona.”

    Launched at YRMC in December, the surgeries using this technology were performed at YRMC East in Prescott Valley.

    For more information about YRMC’s orthopedic surgical services, visit http://www.yrmc.org/orthopedic.

  • Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Reach Agreement

    by Dignity Health Media Contact: Sara Patterson, 602.406.3312 | BCBSAZ Media Contact: Renee Hunt, 602.864.5182 | Apr 28, 2023

    (PHOENIX, Ariz. – April 28, 2023) - Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) are pleased to announce they have reached a new network agreement. This agreement is effective April 1, 2023, and therefore all services from that date will be handled as in network.

    The goal was always to continue to provide patients and members with quality, convenient, and affordable health care in Yavapai County. Both organizations thank the community for their patience throughout the negotiations.

    “After many months of negotiations, we are very pleased that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona has agreed to a new contract that will put our patients first and keep health care local,” says Anthony Torres, MD, President and CEO of Dignity Health YRMC and YRMG. “Providing local high-quality health care services is a top priority and we look forward to furthering our mission of improving the health of those who call Yavapai County home.”

    “Standing up for our members has always been our priority, and we are thankful that Yavapai Regional Medical Center joined us in this effort,” said Dr. Cara Christ, Chief Medical Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. “Together, we can ensure those in Yavapai County have access to the care they need while protecting affordability.”

    Patients and BCBSAZ members who have questions about the new agreement, can contact BCBSAZ or its affiliated health plan using the phone number on the back of their insurance card or reaching out to [email protected]. Patients and members can also call YRMC at 702-616-5786.