UTMB Health ranks 14th of 115 Vizient-rated medical centers

We all have been busy with what we hope was the once-in-a-lifetime COVID-19 pandemic, so it’s been a while—exactly 34 months—since we shared the last Best Care update on April 15, 2020. 

Today, I am pleased to share the first period results of the 2023 Vizient Quality and Accountability Study that was received last week. UTMB Health currently ranks No. 14 among the study’s 115 participating comprehensive academic medical centers.  

As you can see in the chart above, our Journey to Zero to improve patient safety (starting March 1, 2022) and AIDET training (starting September 2021) to address patient experience have resulted in significant improvement in these areas.  

We need to continue to maintain our gains in safety and patient experience and focus on safe transitions of care to reduce 30-day readmissions [effectiveness]. Although our rank in equity is in the lowest decile, we are achieving more than 80% of the points [4.18 out of 5]. 

Most hospitals and health systems across the United States continue to face post-pandemic staffing challenges, inflation, and negative margins. The pandemic clearly served as a canary in the coal mine for patient safety during a time when the U.S. health care system was stressed.   

Now, we are emerging from the pandemic and reinvigorating our focus on delivering safe, reliable, and quality care.  

I offer my deepest gratitude to all UTMB employees for their commitment to creating the most positive patient experiences focused on safe, reliable, and patient-centered care. The work done during this unprecedented time has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I thank you for your ongoing commitment to providing Best Care. 

Regards,  

Gulshan Sharma, MD, MPH, FCCP  
Vice President, Chief Medical and Clinical Innovation Officer