The Pursuit of Excellence
By Roberto Colón, MD, system chief medical officer, Premier Health
This month, we are thrilled to celebrate a significant achievement for Premier Health: for the first time, each of our five hospitals has earned an “A” rating in the Leapfrog Safety Grades. This distinction is not only a mark of excellence in patient safety and quality care but a testament to the unwavering dedication and teamwork of all our caregivers. Together, they have created an environment where the patient experience is exceptional, ensuring that safety and quality are always our top priorities.
This accomplishment, while worthy of celebration, is not the end of our mission. Delivering quality care is a journey without a finish line—it is a continuous pursuit. As health care providers, we strive to exceed expectations for every patient in every aspect of their experience, every single time. Legendary coach Vince Lombardi once said of success: “Winning is not a sometime thing; it is an all-time thing. You don’t win once in a while; you don’t do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit.” In health care, delivering exceptional patient experiences is also a habit built from consistency, commitment, and teamwork.
Yet, unlike sports, health care is not a game we can win—it’s what experts like Simon Sinek call an "Infinite Game." In an infinite game, the objective is not to reach an endpoint but to continuously improve. Our goal is not just a series of achievements but an enduring commitment to advancing patient care. We recognize that each improvement brings with it a higher standard to strive for, and we commit to raising the bar with every step forward.
Our patients deserve the very best, and that is why Premier Health is always on a path of continual growth. Achievements like the "A" ratings remind us that we are moving in the right direction, yet they also underscore our responsibility to do even better. From infection control practices to patient communication and from timely responses to compassionate care, every team member at Premier Health plays an essential role in fostering a culture that seeks higher standards at every turn.
So as we celebrate this milestone, we also embrace the responsibility that comes with it. This recognition reinforces our dedication to patient safety and our pledge to treat every patient interaction as an opportunity to improve. Because in health care, the mission is never truly finished—it's an infinite journey where the stakes are as high as our standards.
Back to the November 2024 issue of Premier Pulse
