Downstate’s University Hospital at Downstate Receives 2014 Press Ganey Commitment to Excellence Award SM for Continuous Improvement in Patient Experience
Nov 12, 2014
Brooklyn, NY -- SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University’s University Hospital at Downstate has been named a 2014 Commitment to Excellence Award winner by Press Ganey Associates, Inc. The Commitment to Excellence Award recognizes healthcare organizations that achieved continuous improvement in Patient Experience during a two-year span. The recognition is awarded annually to 20 organizations.
Press Ganey is the nation’s leading healthcare performance improvement company and partners with more than 11,000 healthcare facilities, including more than half of all U.S. hospitals, to reduce suffering and improve the patient experience.
"We are proud to partner with SUNY Downstate’s University Hospital at Downstate,” said Patrick T. Ryan, CEO of Press Ganey. “Achieving this level of continuous improvement reflects the organization’s unrelenting commitment to deliver more patient-centered care."
According to John F. Williams, Jr., MD, EdD, MPH, FCCM, president of SUNY Downstate, the award represents an important recognition from the industry’s leader in measuring, understanding, and improving the patient experience.
Downstate’s University Hospital at Downstate won the award for outpacing peer institutions in the "Likely to Recommend" core measure of the federal Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS). Only the top five percent of improvers were eligible to qualify for the award, and Downstate was recognized among those who qualified for having the largest total improvement among hospitals with more than 300 beds. Downstate is the only academic medical center being recognized in the Commitment to Excellence category.
“This is a tremendous achievement and honor, and one we should be proud of,” said Dr. Williams. “The award is based on surveys completed and submitted by our patients, and it highlights the hard work undertaken by our staff every single day to meet patients' needs, provide excellent care, and create a healing environment. It takes a team to create a patient-centered culture and this award belongs to all of University Hospital’s employees.”
Downstate has taken a number of steps over the past two years to enhance the patient experience and to make sure its patients know they are its first priority. More than 1,000 employees have been trained through Downstate's Foundations of Service Excellence - Principles of Behavior and Patient Satisfaction program.
Downstate has initiated a number of projects, some implemented throughout the hospital and some on specific hospital units, to enhance communication and care. These special projects range from nurse rounding and a program of pastoral care visits, to improved discharge and environmental service processes. “The changes in our hospital culture are significant and real,” added Dr. Williams.
University Hospital at Downstate was recognized with the formal presentation of the award on November 4 during the Awards Lunch at the annual Press Ganey National Client Conference, at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort. The event draws more than 2,000 providers and 500 CEOs from across the country every year.
About Press Ganey Associates, Inc.
Recognized as a leader in performance improvement for nearly 30 years, Press Ganey
partners with more than 11,000 healthcare organizations worldwide to create and sustain
high-performing organizations, and, ultimately, improve the overall healthcare experience.
The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions to help clients operate
efficiently, improve quality, increase market share, and optimize reimbursement. Press
Ganey works with clients from across the continuum of care – hospitals, medical practices,
home care agencies, and other providers – including more than 50% of all U.S. hospitals.
For more information, visit www.pressganey.com.
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.