UC San Diego Health: A Beacon of Excellence in Patient Care

UC San Diego Health has once again solidified its reputation as a leader in healthcare quality by being honored as a top performer for Vizient’s 2024 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Performance Award. This prestigious recognition marks the sixth consecutive year that the health system has achieved this distinction, placing it among the elite academic medical centers in the nation. This accolade not only highlights UC San Diego Health’s unwavering commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care but also underscores its mission to advance healthcare standards and outcomes at the highest level.

A Testament to Commitment and Excellence

Patty Maysent, CEO of UC San Diego Health, expressed pride in this achievement, stating, “Being named a Vizient top performer for the sixth year in a row underscores our unwavering commitment to excellence in patient care.” This recognition is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the entire team at UC San Diego Health, who work tirelessly to ensure that patients receive the safest and highest quality care possible. This commitment to excellence is not just a goal but a core value that permeates every aspect of the health system.

Rigorous Evaluation and Impressive Rankings

This year, Vizient evaluated a total of 860 hospitals, categorizing them into four cohorts for the Vizient Quality and Accountability Ranking. The evaluation assessed performance across six critical domains: safety, mortality, effectiveness, efficiency, patient-centeredness, and equity of care. UC San Diego Health achieved an impressive ranking of ninth out of 115 health systems in the “Comprehensive Academic Medical Centers” cohort, a clear indication of its superior performance in these essential areas.

Christopher Longhurst, MD, chief medical officer and chief digital officer at UC San Diego Health, emphasized the importance of this award, stating, "This award demonstrates our commitment to setting exemplary standards in the health care industry through a performance-driven culture and innovation in both technology and process to drive the highest quality of patient care." This focus on innovation and performance is crucial in an ever-evolving healthcare landscape.

Comprehensive Data-Driven Assessment

The ranking is based on a comprehensive evaluation that incorporates data from various sources, including the Vizient Clinical Database, the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey, and the National Healthcare Safety Network, which collaborates with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since its inception in 2005, the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study has provided valuable insights into hospital and health system performance, helping to benchmark practices and identify effective strategies for enhancing quality and safety in patient care.

Outpatient Care Excellence

In addition to its achievements in inpatient care, UC San Diego Health has also excelled in outpatient services. Six years ago, the health system began participating in the Vizient Ambulatory Quality and Accountability ranking, which measures the quality of outpatient care across five domains: access to care, continuum of care, quality, efficiency, and equity. This year, the UC San Diego Health ambulatory network achieved its highest rank, placing 12th among the top 63 ambulatory care practices in the nation. This accomplishment reflects the health system’s commitment to providing consistent, high-quality care across all patient interactions.

Christopher Kane, MD, CEO of the UC San Diego Health Physician Group, noted, “Patients expect the same attention to safety, quality, and patient experience at every point of interaction with UC San Diego Health.” This commitment to consistency ensures that patients receive exemplary care, whether they are visiting primary care clinics, specialty clinics, or undergoing procedures.

A Unified Mission for Quality and Safety

The recognition period for this award spans from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. Chad VanDenBerg, MPH, chief quality and patient safety officer at UC San Diego Health, articulated the health system’s unified mission, stating, “Our health system has come together with a unified mission to excel in every dimension of our quality framework on our journey to high reliability.” This collective effort is a testament to the strong teamwork and alignment within the organization, driving meaningful accomplishments in quality and safety.

A Commitment to Community and Innovation

As the region’s only academic health system, UC San Diego Health is dedicated to delivering outstanding patient care through a commitment to community, groundbreaking research, and inspired teaching. For 2024-25, U.S. News & World Report ranked UC San Diego Health as the best hospital system in San Diego and among the nation’s best in 11 adult medical and surgical specialties, including cancer, cardiology, geriatrics, neurology, orthopedics, and pulmonology. Notably, it is the first health system in San Diego County to make the Honor Roll for outstanding patient care.

The health system comprises three hospitals—Hillcrest Medical Center, Jacobs Medical Center, and East Campus Medical Center—along with specialized facilities such as the Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, Moores Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Koman Family Outpatient Pavilion, and Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute. Additionally, it offers primary care and same-day services at clinics throughout Southern California, ensuring comprehensive care for the community.

Conclusion

UC San Diego Health’s recognition as a top performer in the Vizient Quality Leadership Performance Award is not just a reflection of its past achievements but a promise of its future commitment to excellence in patient care. With a focus on safety, quality, and patient-centeredness, the health system continues to set the standard for healthcare in the region and beyond. As it moves forward, UC San Diego Health remains dedicated to its mission of advancing healthcare standards and improving outcomes for all patients, embodying the spirit of innovation and excellence that defines its legacy.