Q&A: Patty Maysent, CEO
For our Q&A this month, CEO Patty Maysent reflects on UC San Diego Health’s remarkable and historic distinction as a member of the Best Hospitals Honor Roll.
Q: What is the significance of UC San Diego Health being on the USNWR honor roll?
A: This is the first time in our history that UC San Diego Health was named to the National Honor Roll, a distinction awarded to only 22 of more than 4,500 hospitals nationwide that are recognized for outstanding patient care. We have earned national rankings in 10 of the 15 specialties and in 18 of the 21 common procedures that USNWR evaluates using clinical outcomes data, level of nursing care, and patient experience scores. Our team members have reached a pinnacle of quality that very few hospitals nationwide achieve, and that no other hospital in San Diego has ever achieved.
Q: Which of the chief accolades that UC San Diego Health received were the most sought-after? Which were the hardest won?
A: UC San Diego Health is on a journey to high reliability. Our focus is on delivering world-class care with an exceptional experience for our patients. This is, above all else, what motivates us. We use Vizient as a barometer of our progress since the measurement approach includes key aspects of what matters most to our patients. Further, Vizient’s methodology is based on more current data and is reflective of all patients we serve versus some of the other methodologies strictly focusing on the Medicare patient population.
Q: What was UC San Diego Health's overall methodology or pathway to achieving this distinction?
A: UC San Diego Health is focused on our journey to high reliability. Our Hospital Quality Council meets every two weeks to review key outcomes data that matter to our patients. Our commitment to data transparency and leveraging the principles of a highly-reliable, learning health system ensure we continually strive for improvement of our already exceptional care.
Q: What would you say was the Dept of Surgery's largest contribution toward earning a place on the honor roll?
A: The Department of Surgery’s commitment to patient safety, quality, and experience contributes greatly to excellent outcomes for many of our patients. Excellent outcomes for routine and complex surgeries also figure prominently in the methodologies of all safety and quality rankings.
Q: Why are such distinctions important from a patient perspective?
A: Placement within these rankings provides a performance benchmark and serve as a barometer for us. We believe that these rankings help support awareness of the world-class care for UC San Diego Health but recognize patients don’t use them solely to determine where to get their care. We are thrilled at being ranked prominently by USNWR, Vizient, Leapfrog and CMS as it helps validate, but also motivate our journey to high reliability.