News at UI Health

America's Essential Hospitals honored UI Health with the 2020 Gage Award for Quality for its joint replacement quality-improvement program. 

This award recognizes activities to improve the quality of care or that mitigate threats to patient safety.  

Launched in 2015, the multidisciplinary program comprises eight interventions, including a required preoperative education class; a preoperative checklist; and efforts to support earlier, more effective mobility in patients.  

Since starting the program, patient preoperative education increased from 10 to 100 percent; patient satisfaction related to physician communication, pain management, and discharge information increased by more than 80 percent; and venous thromboembolism rates decreased from 32.6 percent to zero percent.  

"We are proud to be recognized by America's Essential Hospitals and accept this prestigious award, which represents the tireless efforts of a multidisciplinary team of providers and leaders across our organization," said Paul Gorski, MPH, senior director of clinical services and integration and operations officer at UI Health. "At UI Health, we are committed to continuous improvement and innovation to provide our patients with better outcomes and quality of life."  

Congratulations to the many teams involved in this achievement, including Orthopaedics, Rehabilitation Services, Infectious Diseases, Pain Management, and Perioperative Services.