Honorees Recognized for Efforts to Improve Quality, Safety, and Equity of Patient Care

Brooklyn, New York – (June 25, 2024) – On May 8, United Hospital Fund honored two Maimonides Health leaders, amongst other professionals from a variety of health care organizations, as extraordinary quality improvement leaders across the metropolitan region for their tireless efforts to improve the quality, safety, and equity of patient care at their institutions.

The sixth annual Tribute to Excellence in Health Care honored 67 Quality Improvement Champions from 64 participating hospital systems, long-term care facilities, home care organizations, independent practice associations, federally qualified health centers, medical groups, and behavioral health organizations for their work to improve quality of care, patient safety, and the patient experience at their institutions. Keynote remarks by Joseph Betancourt, MD, President of The Commonwealth Fund, were also a highlight of the afternoon.

“We are deeply proud of team members — Dr. Jeffrey Nicastro and Ms. Diane Immel – who were recognized as Quality Improvement Champions,” said Ken Gibbs, President and CEO of Maimonides Health. “Their commitment speaks to our organization’s fundamental values of providing excellent patient care to our community.”

Jeffrey Nicastro, MD, Vice Chair of Surgery and Director of Adult Critical Care, Maimonides Medical Center, was honored for leading a team through a re-engineering of surgical patient care processes at Maimonides. This initiative led to a 20 percent increase in patient scores, a reduction of length of stay for surgical patients, and improvements in safety measures.

Diane Immel, MS, BSN, RN, Vice President of Perioperative Services, Maimonides Midwood Community Hospital, was honored for implementing multiple initiatives in her department focused on key communication, structured conversation, and processes, which has resulted in reduced surgical and laboratory errors and improved patient outcomes

“We are thrilled that our colleagues are being recognized for their exceptional contribution,” said Barry Stern, President of Maimonides Midwood Community Hospital. “This recognition is a testament to their hard work and dedication to our patients and our community,”
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About Maimonides Health
Maimonides Health is Brooklyn’s largest healthcare system, serving over 300,000 patients each year through the system’s three hospitals, 1,700 physicians, and more than 80 community-based practices and outpatient centers. The system is anchored by Maimonides Medical Center, one of the nation’s largest independent teaching hospitals and home to centers of excellence in numerous specialties; Maimonides Midwood Community Hospital (formerly New York Community Hospital), a 130-bed adult medical-surgical hospital; and Maimonides Children’s Hospital, Brooklyn’s only children’s hospital, and only pediatric trauma center.

Maimonides’ clinical programs rank among the best in the country for patient outcomes, including its Heart and Vascular Institute, Neurosciences Institute, Bone and Joint Center, and Cancer Center. Maimonides is an affiliate of Northwell Health and a major clinical training site for SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. For additional information, please visit www.maimo.org.