Downers Grove Physician Wins Innovation Award from Illinois Psychiatric Society

Loyola University Medical Center psychiatrist Murali Rao, MD, has won the 2016 Innovation in Patient Care Award from the Illinois Psychiatric Society for his efforts to provide better care, smarter spending and healthier people.

The award is given to a physician in the Illinois Psychiatric Society who has, over the past two years, contributed best to the improvement of clinical services through innovation. The award was presented during the society’s 2016 annual meeting in Chicago. The society is a district branch of the American Psychiatric Association.

The award praised Dr. Rao for his “leading-edge spirit and creative approach to every pursuit” and thanked him for “continuing to think in new and innovative ways.”

Dr. Rao, who lives in Downers Grove, is chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.

Dr. Rao is a director on the board of Loyola Physician Partners, a network of physicians who collaborate on ways to improve patient care, reward performance and control the cost of patient care. The clinically integrated network provides comprehensive healthcare services in a patient-centered medical home.

Loyola University Health System has more than 30 primary and specialty care facilities in Cook, Will and DuPage counties. Dr. Rao helped to embed these centers with behavior health specialists, backed by the expertise of psychiatrists.

Loyola is a member of Trinity Health, a national Catholic healthcare system. Trinity Health is committed to being a people-centered healthcare system that enables better health, better care and lower costs.