BWH Recognized as UHC Top-Five Performer
BWH made its presence felt during the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) sixth annual Quality and Safety Forum in October.
BWH was one of five health care facilities to receive the UHC’s crystal award for demonstrating excellence in high-quality, safe, effective and equitable care. In addition, the UHC tapped several BWH leaders for panel discussions and presentations on continuity of care, the role of the board in quality oversight, optimizing the role of hospitalists and residents, and the BWH Staff Support Team.
“Everyone at BWH should be proud of this recognition of our excellence by UHC, but we should be more proud that so many at BWH are among the nation’s leading voices when the dialogue turns to high-quality, effective care,” said BWH President Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA.
Gottlieb accepted the UHC award during its Oct. 12-13 forum entitled “Continuing the Journey: Destination-Superior Performance.” For the second straight year, BWH was among the top five performers in the UHC’s Quality and Accountability Study. The UHC, a consortium of academic medical centers, used key measures of organizational performance that focus on outcomes of care to study high-performing facilities for this project.
The two-day forum, which drew more than 650 leaders from the country’s top teaching hospitals, featured several panel discussions and presentations that showcased innovative programs at BWH.
Mary Ann Tynan, vice chair of the BWH Board of Trustees, participated on the UHC panel for a breakout session entitled, “Transforming the Organization – Critical Role of Governing Boards in Advancing Quality and Patient Safety.” Janet Barnes, RN, JD, executive director of Clinical Compliance and Risk Management, and Frederick van Pelt, MD, BWH Anesthesia, detailed BWH’s peer support team. Michael Gustafson, MD, MBA, vice president of Clinical Excellence, and Sylvia McKean, MD, medical director of BWF Hospitalist Service, discussed efforts to optimize the role of both residents and hospitalists in patient care and education.