CEO’s Message
I am proud to lead University Hospitals, where we continually strive to create a better and more vibrant future for our health system, for the patients we serve, and for our communities.
We have a noble goal – to be the most trusted healthcare partner for our patients and in our region. This is powered by our four differentiators: improving the quality of care while reducing costs; providing compassionate and equitable care; pioneering medical research and breakthroughs; and serving as the hometown team.
Our commitment to provide the highest quality care at the lowest possible cost, or what we call high-value care, means we are constantly innovating new ways to deliver care. One example is by reducing variations in care while enhancing the patient experience. Another is by creating regional Centers of Excellence, which is good for patients because they facilitate a high volume of uniform specialty care enhancing overall outcomes. A third illustration is by keeping people healthy at home, such as through our Hospital@Home program, where patients are monitored 24 hours a day and seen by care providers twice each day in the comfort of their homes.
One of the ways we demonstrate compassionate and equitable care is through our community health investment and engagement strategy. In 2023, University Hospitals’ community health investment totaled $707 million. This reflects $522 million in traditional community benefit as defined by the IRS, as well as $185 million in unreimbursed Medicare costs. As part of our overall strategy, UH focuses on three priority areas to maximize impact: Maternal & Child Health, Well-being and Economic Opportunity. I invite you to read about how we are investing in our communities here.
In 2024, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center was the only Ohio-based hospital to be named to U.S. News & World Report’s inaugural list of Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access. Importantly, this recognition highlights our success in caring for patients in historically underserved communities while maintaining high quality care, further illustrating how we are fulfilling our founders’ pledge in taking care of the needy. Only 2% of the nation’s hospitals earned such recognition for Equitable Access.
UH is also instrumental in building both the physical and economic health of the community. A recent study by Silverlode Consulting Corp. revealed that UH contributed $14.3 billion to the regional economy in 2023, marking a 38% increase since 2019. This significant economic impact underscores our system’s dedication to the region's growth and prosperity.
As a teaching hospital, UH is also a leader, statewide and nationally, in the number of research studies performed here of a clot blocking blood flow in an artery gives patients with large strokes a dramatically better each year, as well as in pioneering medical breakthroughs. In fact, we attained a record $197 million in research funding in 2023 – our most recent measurement period. Recent innovative examples highlighted in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine include how UH has found an alternative to amputation for patients suffering from limb-threatening ischemia, the most severe form of peripheral artery disease; a clinical trial finding by a UH physician that mechanical removal recovery, and data from a new study at UH Seidman Cancer Center that shows significant promise for personalized treatment in men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer.
UH is the “Hometown” team, meaning this region is where we make our investments, which come in many forms. That might mean expanding our facilities and what they offer, such as through the significant expansion of our UH Ahuja Medical Center campus. Our investment also means creating the workforce of tomorrow and providing opportunities for those who live in our communities. For example, we have joined with Cleveland Clinic and MetroHealth in committing to support hiring and workforce development programs in Northeast Ohio. Not only does this help us as employers in filling the demand for more caregivers, it creates a career pathway for the people who live in our region and enhances the diversity of our talent.
It also means delivering a 5-star experience at every touch point for all who interact with our expansive health system. Patient surveys tell us that we are known for delivering care with compassion – that is a UH hallmark. But we also know we can do even better by providing an excellent “hospitality-like” experience, from the moment someone calls to make an appointment, to when they are receiving care in our facilities, to when they are back home and potentially interacting with us digitally. We strive to make it easy and delightful for our community members and caregivers to choose UH.
We will never rest on our laurels. As healers, teachers and discoverers, we continue to work diligently to Advance the Science of Health and the Art of Compassion, while eliminating barriers to healthcare for all.