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Stamford Health Honored with Award For Its Preoperative Optimization Program

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Wednesday, September 17th 2025 at 4:48 GMT by Patch
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Stamford Health Receives Prestigious Award for its Pre‑Operative Optimization Program

Stamford Health, the largest health system in Connecticut, has been honored with a high‑profile award for its pioneering Pre‑Operative Optimization Program. The accolade, presented by the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) at a ceremony held at the Stamford Convention Center, recognizes the system’s commitment to improving surgical outcomes through comprehensive pre‑operative risk assessment and patient‑centered care.

What the Program Entails

The Pre‑Operative Optimization Program is a multidisciplinary initiative that brings together surgeons, anesthesiologists, internists, dietitians, physiotherapists, and case‑management specialists. Its goal is simple yet ambitious: to reduce surgical complications, shorten hospital stays, and cut readmission rates by addressing modifiable risk factors before a patient even enters the operating room.

Key elements of the program include:

The program is delivered through a dedicated “Pre‑Op Clinic” located on Stamford Health’s flagship hospital campus. Patients are referred by their primary surgeon or anesthesiologist and are seen within a week of the scheduled procedure.

The Award and its Significance

The CHA’s Excellence in Pre‑Operative Care Award is given annually to one health system in Connecticut that demonstrates outstanding performance in reducing surgical complications, length of stay, and readmission rates. Stamford Health became the first system in the state to win the award twice in a row—first in 2020 and again in 2023.

According to Dr. Laura K. Johnson, Chief of Surgery at Stamford Health, “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our multidisciplinary team. By tackling the problem of surgical complications from the very beginning—well before the patient enters the OR—we’re seeing tangible improvements in outcomes and, most importantly, in patient experience.”

The CHA cited several metrics in its decision to honor Stamford Health, including:

• 30‑Day Readmission Rate: 3.2% (state average: 5.8%).
• Average Length of Stay (LOS): 2.4 days for elective surgeries (state average: 3.1 days).
• Patient Satisfaction: 92% of respondents reported “excellent” care during the pre‑operative phase.

These numbers reflect the program’s effectiveness in delivering high‑quality, cost‑effective care.

Follow‑Up Information and Resources

Readers looking to learn more about Stamford Health’s pre‑operative optimization approach can find additional information in the links embedded in the original Patch article:

1. Stamford Health Pre‑Operative Optimization Program Page – Provides detailed case studies, patient testimonials, and a downloadable guide for surgeons seeking to replicate the model.
2. CHALLENGE Report – A publication by the CHA outlining the criteria and methodology for awarding the Excellence in Pre‑Operative Care Award.
3. National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) Summary – Highlights Stamford Health’s participation in the national database and demonstrates how data‑driven approaches help refine the program.

The article also referenced a recent video interview with Dr. Johnson, where she discusses the program’s evolution over the past five years, its integration with the hospital’s electronic health record (EHR) system, and future plans to expand the model to include virtual pre‑operative assessments for rural patients.

Looking Ahead

Stamford Health plans to extend the Pre‑Operative Optimization Program beyond the current hospital campus. By leveraging telemedicine and mobile health platforms, the health system aims to provide remote pre‑operative counseling and monitoring for patients in underserved areas. The plan also includes partnerships with community pharmacies to facilitate medication adherence and the introduction of a “Surgical Wellness” certification program for primary care clinicians.

In a statement, Stamford Health’s CEO, Mark R. Tashman, emphasized that the award “reinforces our mission to be the safest place to have surgery in the region.” He added that the hospital will continue to invest in data analytics, patient education, and workforce training to sustain and amplify the program’s impact.

Conclusion

Stamford Health’s receipt of the Connecticut Hospital Association’s Excellence in Pre‑Operative Care Award underscores the transformative power of comprehensive pre‑operative optimization. By adopting a systematic, multidisciplinary approach that addresses medical, nutritional, and behavioral risk factors, the health system has demonstrably lowered complication rates, shortened hospital stays, and elevated patient satisfaction. The program’s success not only benefits the patients who undergo surgery but also provides a scalable model for other institutions seeking to improve surgical outcomes while reducing costs.