Durham Region – For the second time, Lakeridge Health has earned a prestigious distinction, being recognized by the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) as one of only 77 hospitals in North America to achieve the highly coveted “Meritorious” status for excellence in surgical care.
“I’m so thrilled for Lakeridge Health’s surgical teams,” said Dr. John Dickie, Chief of Surgery, Lakeridge Health. “This is the second time in four years that Lakeridge Health has received this recognition and be a part of a select group of hospitals to achieve this award. This remarkable achievement highlights Lakeridge Health’s unwavering commitment to delivering the highest quality of care.”
“We’re honoured to receive this prestigious award,” said Heather Lithgow, Director of Surgical Services, Lakeridge Health. "This award is a testament to the dedication, skill, and relentless pursuit of excellence that our teams bring to every surgery. This recognition not only reflects our commitment to improving patient outcomes but also underscores the impact of our collaborative approach to care. We couldn’t be prouder of the entire team for making a real difference in the lives of our patients every single day."
As a participant in the ACS NSQIP, Lakeridge Health collects data on patient safety and tracks the outcomes of both inpatient and outpatient surgeries. This data helps the surgical teams identify areas for improvement and develop targeted action plans. By using evidence-based methods, the hospital works to make surgeries safer, reducing risks such as complications, infections, and even deaths, ultimately improving patient outcomes and experiences. In the coming months, Lakeridge Health is planning to expand this quality improvement initiative to other facilities.
The ACS NSQIP is the only nationally validated quality improvement program that measures and enhances the care of surgical patients. For patients, this comprehensive, quality-driven approach to surgical care not only means the reduced potential for hospital readmission and decreased length of stay, but also higher patient satisfaction and better outcomes.
"We’re incredibly proud of our surgical teams at Lakeridge Health," said Cynthia Davis, President and CEO of Lakeridge Health. "The team’s dedication to a rigorous approach to quality improvement not only leads to higher patient satisfaction and better outcomes but also ensures we're making the most of limited health-care resources. This achievement is a direct result of the collaboration and excellence our surgical teams bring to work across all Lakeridge Health facilities and is helping us to deliver on our vision of One System. Best Health. We’re committed to delivering exceptional care and continuing to set the standard for excellence in everything we do."
About Lakeridge Health
With five hospitals, four emergency departments, three critical care units, a long-term care home, a full range of medical and surgical specialties, more than 20 community health-care locations and a state-of-the-art surgical centre within the Jerry Coughlan Health & Wellness Centre, Lakeridge Health offers some of the broadest and most comprehensive acute care, ambulatory care, and long-term care services in Ontario.
Lakeridge Health is also home to several regional specialty centres and services, including the Central East Regional Cancer Program, R.S. McLaughlin Durham Regional Cancer Centre, The Shoulder Centre, eye care, thoracic, gynecology oncology and chronic kidney disease services. Additionally, we are proud to serve our community with a full suite of inpatient, ambulatory, and community-based mental health and addictions services, and provide safe, high-quality, compassionate care in our state-of-the-art long-term care home, Lakeridge Gardens.
Lakeridge Health is redefining the future of health care through transformative research, dynamic academic partnerships, and groundbreaking clinical trials. With over 140 active studies, we’re at the forefront of advancing medical knowledge, expanding treatment options, and improving the lives of our patients. Our one-of-a-kind Queen's-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program is on the leading edge of training the next generation of primary care doctors. Each year, over 3,000 students and trainees are supported by the Lakeridge Health Education and Research Network (LHEARN). Through our innovative collaboration with Ontario Tech University, we’re also harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence to revolutionize patient care. Together with our academic, community, and industry partners, Lakeridge Health is tackling the toughest health challenges and elevating the quality of care for the communities we serve.
Guided by our vision of One System. Best Health. and supported by a dedicated team of nearly 9,000 staff, physicians, and volunteers, Lakeridge Health is a proud member of the Durham Ontario Health Team (Durham OHT) and works in collaboration with the Durham OHT, as well as primary care, and community and government partners to foster a truly integrated, regional system of care. Together, we are focused on empowering people to live their best health and fostering an accessible, inclusive, and equitable environment for all.
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For more information, please contact:
Sharon Navarro
Manager, Public Relations and Digital Communications
T. 905-435-7889
snavarro@lh.ca
