Hartford HealthCare Receives 2025 AHA Quest for Quality Prize for Dedication to Excellence in Patient Care

Strategic Insights -

Hartford HealthCare has been recognized as the recipient of the 2025 AHA Quest for Quality Prize, a prestigious award that honors exceptional health care leadership and innovation in improving quality and advancing health in America's communities. This achievement is a testament to the organization's unwavering commitment to excellence in patient care, teamwork, and high-reliability training. Since setting an ambitious goal in 2017 to have every hospital earn an A rating in safety from the Leapfrog Group, Hartford HealthCare has made significant strides in improving patient safety, reducing hospital-acquired infections, and promoting a culture of continuous improvement.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hartford HealthCare has achieved a 70% reduction in hospital-acquired infections between 2015 and 2023, with a Serious Safety Event Rate of 0.21 per 10,000 adjusted patient days in fiscal 2023.
  • The organization's recruitment process includes questions about safety behaviors and emotional intelligence to ensure new hires are aligned with Hartford HealthCare's safety culture.
  • All employees undergo high-reliability organization (HRO) training as part of their onboarding process, emphasizing the importance of staff being informed and empowered to report safety events.
  • Hartford HealthCare's Center for Education, Simulation, and Innovation (CESI) attracts over 21,000 learners and trainees each year, serving as both a training hub and a testing ground for innovative ideas.
  • The organization's Clinical Care Redesign (CCR) program has eliminated unnecessary labs and imaging, adhered to Choosing Wisely guidance, and standardized protocols to reduce variations in care and improve value.
  • Hartford HealthCare's innovations include the AI-enabled HHC 24/7 app, which allows patients to connect with real-life clinicians for primary care encounters, with over 100 patients served daily.