CHA Awards Stamford Health For Its Comprehensive Preoperative Optimization Program
Wallingford, CT / Stamford, CT / June 24, 2025 – The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) awarded Stamford Health the 2025 John D. Thompson Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Healthcare Through the Use of Data for its Comprehensive Preoperative Optimization Program (POP). Stamford Health was presented with the prestigious award at the 2025 CHA Annual Meeting, held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at the Bristol Event Center in Bristol, Connecticut.
To optimize surgical quality and safety, the POP clinic, located at the Tully Health Center, was developed to standardize and improve the surgical preoperative risk assessment process, and to perform a multidisciplinary risk assessment prior to all inpatient surgical cases. Patients continue to see their primary care physician prior to surgery, and in the POP clinic, they are seen by a hospitalist physician, who conducts standardized risk assessments to screen for cardiac, pulmonary, infection prevention, pain management, and other potential clinical risks.
“It is an honor to present Stamford Health with this award for an initiative that demonstrates how clinical teams transform data into real-world improvements in patient care,” Jennifer Jackson, CEO, CHA. “The success of POP is a testament to Stamford Health’s commitment to collaboration and innovation. This teamwork has resulted in a thoroughly coordinated program that draws expertise from numerous hospital departments to create a seamless experience for all patients undergoing inpatient surgery. We applaud the team for this exceptional achievement.”
In addition to assessing surgical cancellation rates, Stamford Health sought to evaluate POP’s clinical effectiveness through participation in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP). From 2017 to 2023, ACS NSQIP data was monitored to assess the impact of POP on a number of clinical endpoints. Rates of specific surgical complications decreased by as much as 70%. Additionally, the program has decreased overall postoperative morbidity by 73% and postoperative mortality by 57%. Same-day surgical cancellation rates were frequently above 10% in 2017 and are now less than 1%. Additionally in November 2024, Stamford Health was one of just 58 hospitals in the United States (and the only hospital in Connecticut) to be recognized for achieving a “meritorious” score in either a category of “all cases” or “high risk,” based on composite quality scores in eight areas: mortality, cardiac (cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction), pneumonia, unplanned intubation, ventilator for less than 48 hours, renal failure, surgical site infection and urinary tract infection.
“I am extremely proud of this recognition, which reinforces the outstanding surgical care we provide to our patients every day,” stated Rohit Bhalla, MD, MPH, Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical and Quality Officer at Stamford Health. “Thank you to our many skilled physicians, nurses, and care teams who work collaboratively in our POP clinic to ensure patients are healthy and fully prepared for their procedures.”
CHA’s John D. Thompson Award was established in 1994 and honors the contributions made by John D. Thompson to healthcare administration and patient care quality during his career. Dr. Thompson was a professor at Yale’s Schools of Nursing, Medicine, and Public Health, known for his advocacy of using quantitative data in health policy formulation, and specifically his role in the development of DRGs for hospital reimbursement. The award recognizes excellence in patient care through the use of data, as demonstrated by the improvement of internal operations, procedures, and outcomes.
Learn more about the program by watching the award recognition video here.
ABOUT STAMFORD HEALTH
Stamford Health is a non-profit independent health care system with more than 3,900 employees committed to caring for the community through a wide range of high-quality health and wellness services. Patients and their families receive expert, compassionate care through the system’s 305-bed Stamford Hospital; Stamford Health Medical Group, with more than 40 offices in lower Fairfield County offering primary and specialty care; a growing number of ambulatory locations across the region; and support through the Stamford Hospital Foundation.Stamford Health is known for its expert, person-centered care through its many recognitions and partnerships. U.S. News & World Report has recognized Stamford Hospital as a High-Performing Hospital. The Leapfrog Group awarded Stamford Hospital an “A” for patient safety. The American Nurses Credentialing Center has granted Stamford Hospital Magnet Status, which recognizes superior patient care with the highest level of safety, quality, and patient satisfaction. Stamford Health is Planetree Gold-Certified for Excellence in Person-Centered Care and is a Certified™ Great Place to Work.
Stamford Health is a major teaching affiliate of the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and offers treatment and expertise from Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s nationally recognized heart and neurosurgeons. Stamford Health and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) have created a premier center for specialty orthopedic care right in Stamford, Connecticut. Stamford Health’s Carl & Dorothy Bennett Cancer Center has a robust collaboration with Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center.
Dedicated to being the community’s most trusted health care partner, Stamford Health puts patients first to build long-lasting relationships. For more information, visit StamfordHealth.org. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and X.
PRESS CONTACT
Jacob Gaydos, Communications ManagerStamford Health
[email protected]
203.276.2201