Numerous accolades reflect the hospital's commitment to quality and safety.
Choosing convenient medical care doesn’t mean you must sacrifice quality. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Hamilton is constantly striving to deliver the highest quality care. For example, in 2018, RWJUH Hamilton was recognized as a top hospital for health care quality by U.S. News & World Report. In addition, the hospital partners with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state’s only National Cancer Institute Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, to deliver outstanding cancer care.
Patient safety is also a priority. RWJUH Hamilton is committed to zero incidents of preventable harm. In this mission, called “Safety Together,” the hospital staff is adopting safety strategies and tools used by “high reliability organizations” in the manufacturing and nuclear industries. These companies have reduced accidents by using standardized error-prevention processes.
RWJUH Hamilton has been recognized for its commitment to patient safety and quality care. Here’s what recent accolades mean for patients:
• Leapfrog hospital safety grade "A."
The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality and safety, rates a hospital’s performance in patient safety. RWJUH Hamilton consistently receives the best possible “grade.” Hospitals are evaluated on a variety of measures, such as the clarity of physicians’ orders, patient outcomes and patient safety.
• Leapfrog top general hospitaL.
RWJUH Hamilton was named a Top General Hospital by Leapfrog in December 2018. The hospital was one of only 35 nationwide to receive this recognition. “This is very exciting,” says Joan Bercari, MSN, RN, Vice President of Quality and Patient Safety Officer. “It’s a great tribute to the work we do every day to provide high-quality and safe patient care.”
• Joint Commission accreditation.
The hospital has received advanced certification for the Primary Stroke Center, as well as certification for hip and knee replacement and spine surgery from the Joint Commission, a nonprofit organization that accredits health care organizations and programs.
• Center for excellence.
The Center for Weight Loss at RWJUH Hamilton has been named a Center of Excellence for metabolic and bariatric surgery by the Surgical Review
Corporation.
Improving the patient experience
RWJUH Hamilton uses feedback from patients to improve care. Staff members review Press Ganey scores, measures of patient experience that are benchmarked against similarly sized hospitals. The hospital’s leadership team meets regularly with department heads, nurses and other health care professionals to create plans for improvement. In addition, the hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Council gathers feedback from patients and shares it with hospital staff members.
“If we can better understand patients’ needs, we can make improvements that will lead to better quality of care and outcomes—as well as greater patient satisfaction,” says Jill Anderson, Director of Patient Experience.