On Dec.10, we opened the UF Health Heart & Vascular and the UF Health Neuromedicine hospitals and successfully transitioned patients and staff to the state-of-the art facilities. The new hospitals augment our abilities to manage complex conditions and reflect our unrelenting efforts and commitments to improve care for our patients, their loved ones and our community.

I had the privilege of taking on the role of chief quality officer for UF Health Shands hospitals in November. Immediately apparent was the incredible quality and patient safety infrastructure across our clinical programs. I commend Shelley Wells Collins, M.D., associate chief medical officer, who served as interim director of clinical quality over the past year, and the core leadership team, faculty and staff who kept us focused on vital institutional and patient care needs.

As our hospital system develops, it is critical to maintain a vision that encompasses all of our hospitals, physician practices, outpatient programs, centers and agencies. Drawing from the collaborative strength of engaged leadership, we aspire to maintain safety and quality as fundamental elements of our core culture, not simply areas highlighted in specific campaigns and initiatives.

Placing the needs of our patients first includes eliminating preventable harm at all points of care. We will continue to reinforce engagement and transparency. Specifically, we will evolve our efforts to improve how our patients access critical emergency services, how we facilitate care as they are discharged and optimize our focus on seamless continuity as they transition through the UF Health system.

Aligning these commitments will strengthen our focused efforts on key quality measures, including mortality, patient-centeredness, effectiveness, equity, safety and efficiency.

Thank you for your contributions as we elevate our patient experience by continually exploring and pursuing opportunities to identify and meet their needs.