Recognized internationally for surgical care, Surrey Memorial Hospital is on the 2023 list of meritorious hospitals.
The site is among 77 hospitals recognized internationally out of 609 hospitals evaluated by the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) for its efforts to improve surgical outcomes for adult patients.
"Being part of the surgical team, whose work has gotten our site recognized as a meritorious hospital, is an unexplainable feeling and reminder that every piece of data we collect represents a life we've touched," says Dr. Chuck Wen, thoracic surgeon, Surrey Memorial Hospital and the NSQIP Surgeon Champion for Surrey Memorial Hospital. "By our collective commitment to quality and patient safety, we're not just improving numbers but honouring our patients' trust."
The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP), developed by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), focuses on reducing surgical complications and enhancing patient outcomes through a data-driven, evidence-based approach.
Surrey Memorial Hospital received top honours in all risk and high-risk categories for outcomes in the following eight areas: mortality, cardiac, pneumonia, unplanned intubation, ventilator for more than 48 hours, renal failure, surgical site infection and urinary tract infection.
"The NSQIP award is a true honour and a testament to the dedication of Surrey Memorial Hospital's surgical teams," says Martha Cloutier, executive director, Surrey Memorial Hospital. "This recognition reflects their commitment to patient care, use of best practices and continuous efforts to enhance the patient experience, safety and quality of care."
All participating hospitals must track inpatient and outpatient procedures and collect data to assess patient safety. The American College of Surgeons then analyzes this data and shares the findings with the hospitals to help them identify areas for improvement and compare their performance with national standards to drive better quality of surgical care and enhance patient safety.
"Their relentless focus on patient safety and excellence truly makes them the cornerstone of this achievement, and we are ecstatic of their role in earning this recognition," says Angela Tecson, director, Surgical Safety and Physician Partnerships.
"The NSQIP Meritorious Award is a testament to the outstanding teamwork at Surrey Memorial Hospital, where surgeons, nurses, allied health professionals, and support staff collaborate to drive continuous improvement in surgical care," says Lesli Matheson Jennings, executive director, Clinical Quality and Strategic Priorities. "We are incredibly proud of our teams advancing surgical care at Surrey Memorial Hospital, which is dedicated to improving patient outcomes and enriching the patient experience."
