From the Associate VP and CEO

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

The past year at UI Hospitals and Clinics was remarkable, and I am extremely honored to have been selected to lead such a great medical center with a long and proud history of excellence. I want to thank Gordon Williams for his excellent leadership as interim CEO from December 2007 until my arrival in September 2008.

Our faculty and staff worked together to improve access and efficiency in our clinics; increase the satisfaction of the patients and families that we serve; and advance clinical quality and patient safety through several initiatives, such as the online reporting of safety concerns and our new Partners in Safety Program.

At University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, we focus on providing the highest quality care to our patients and their families.

We received important confirmation of the overall excellence of patient care we provide when the Joint Commission granted full accreditation in July and highlighted our efforts to provide safe, high-quality care, treatment, and services.

In August, we were re-designated as a Magnet Hospital for excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This re-designation recognizes the continued excellence in services and patient care by our nearly 1,500-strong nursing staff. We were the first in Iowa to receive this designation and are now the first to be re-designated—clear indications of the commitment of our entire staff and faculty to continually strive harder and work together to meet the health care needs of the people we serve.

The spirit of meeting a challenge as one integrated entity was readily apparent during the devastating flooding of the Iowa River last June. College and hospital staff members, administrators, faculty, students, and volunteers worked together and, in many cases, very long hours to maintain our patient care services and facilities, protect our people and assets, and communicate our situation to others. By all accounts, people displayed unbelievable generosity, unfailing energy, and optimism. The examples of selflessness will live in our institutional memory forever.

Looking ahead to the coming year, there is important work to be done. Guided by the UI Health Care integrated strategic plan, we will continue to focus on improving the care and services for our patients and their families through various initiatives. Among the most important projects will be the launch of a new comprehensive, clinical information system; enhancing access and smooth care processes; and improving operational performance across many dimensions.

Kenneth Kates