Stamford Hospital Recognized By U.S. News & World Report

STAMFORD, CT — Stamford Hospital was recognized recently in U.S. News & World Report's (USNWR) "Best Hospitals 2021-2022" rankings as a High Performing Hospital in four categories: chronic lung disease, heart failure, kidney failure, and stroke care.

The data used for the rankings predates the COVID-19 outbreak.

The latest recognition from USNWR was driven by favorable outcomes in each of the four specialties, as well as good performance in service volumes, readmission rates, outcomes, pertinent care technologies, and specialized personnel.

"I am incredibly proud of our team for earning USNWR recognition," said Kathleen Silard, President & CEO of Stamford Health, in a news release. "These achievements reflect Stamford Health’s commitment to caring for patients at the highest level possible and is a continued reminder that our teams are providing expert care with a human touch."

Also recently, the hospital received a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; an "A" grade from Leapfrog Hospital Safety; and re-accreditation with Magnet Status by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

For Dr. Rohit Bhalla, Senior Vice President, Clinical Affairs & Quality, the recognitions speak volumes about the staff at Stamford Hospital.

"I think it's really a testament to their work and their dedication everyday. To get recognition and results really requires a very continuous commitment to quality and safety. It's something that really requires not so much a monthly commitment or a weekly commitment, it's an hour by hour and minute by minute commitment and attention to detail," Bhalla told Patch.

Bhalla credited the processes, teamwork and culture in place at Stamford Hospital.

"As much as we're being measured externally, we do our best to measure much more internally so we're very cognizant of how we're being evaluated," Bhalla explained. "As opposed to looking at results in a corner office, these will be posted on patient care units, in break areas and so forth. At team meetings, results will be discussed."

Working in teams has allowed Stamford Hospital to achieve positive results. Communication between all staff members and levels has been paramount as well.

"We try very hard to do everything we can through not the influence of just one individual, or a physician alone; it's a number of different personnel coming together. In many of the units that we have, as opposed to the day starting with individuals going off to do their own thing, often a day will start with the equivalent of a huddle just like on the football field before you run a play," Bhalla added. "That's an opportunity for people to communicate, but it's also an opportunity for people to share what they're concerned about that day if they think about potentially a situation that could be unsafe. For example, if there's a medication that's frequently used but it's in short supply, that might be discussed in the morning in a huddle."

The staff is also empowered to develop solutions for problems that crop up.

"One of the traditional approaches to patient safety is is that when something adverse happens, you do a very, very careful analysis of why it happened and so forth," Bhalla said. "We've really tried very hard to improve upon that several fold, which is not to wait for adverse events, but really to look at what some will call 'near misses' and 'great catches'."

If a staff member intercepts a potential error, the hospital will look at it and potentially present that person with an award in front of the entire leadership team and organization. Awards are also given to patient units that have the most "great catches" in a year.

"That promotes vigilance, which is very important in terms of patient safety in particular and it also promotes an adherence to best practices," Bhalla said, likening it to driving. "If we all drive the speed limit and we all come to a full stop at every stop sign, it's very likely we'd reduce the number of accidents on the road drastically."

Along with quality and safety, which are bedrocks of clinical care, according to Bhalla, Stamford Hospital has worked on enhancing the overall environment for patients.

"We try very hard to pay attention to the other human elements, the inter-personal elements as well in terms of the care we deliver," Bhalla said. "Overall, our hope and what we try to do everyday is try and make the experience here to be as patient-centered as possible."

Bhalla noted that the staff at Stamford Hospital is "very proud" of their accomplishments, especially with how the last 18 months have gone. But the validation and recognition isn't something Bhalla takes for granted. Providing good care in a safe setting requires constant commitment.

"This is not an accomplishment that just stays. It's something that you have to earn everyday when you come into work with every staff member. It's something we work on continuously," he said.