Practicing a Culture of Excellence

Communication, collaboration are key

In the past year, National Jewish Health has been recognized for excellence in many endeavors. While the awards recognize different facets of the organization, they all point to one overriding theme: the culture of excellence that exists at National Jewish Health.

Ask people what defines this culture and they will come up with a variety of suggestions, from intense focus, to the freedom to pursue promising ideas, to a refusal to accept simple answers. Throughout, one common theme emerges.

“Communication and collaboration are key,” said James Good, MD, a pulmonologist who spent more than two decades in private practice before coming to National Jewish Health in 2006. “In the course of a single day, I communicate with multiple specialists regarding individual patients, from cardiologists, radiologists and allergists to gastroenterologists and rheumatologists. They all contribute to my understanding of a patient’s respiratory problems and help me devise a working solution. It is extraordinary.”

Number 1 Respiratory Hospital. U.S. News & World Report has ranked National Jewish Health the best respiratory hospital in the nation for 15 consecutive years. The magazine ranks hospitals based on a combination of care-related factors, including opinions of board-certified pulmonologists, patient outcomes, nursing, patient services and technology.

America’s Top Doctors. Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd., named 24 National Jewish Health doctors to its list of the best doctors in the nation. Fewer than 1 percent of doctors nationwide are chosen for this honor.

Four-Star Charity. National Jewish Health received its fourth consecutive four-star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation’s premier independent evaluator of charities. The rating is based on sound fiscal management, commitment to accountability and transparency. Only 7 percent of ranked charities have received at least four consecutive four-star evaluations.

Leading Laboratories. The Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories at National Jewish Health have been accredited by the College of American Pathologists, recognizing technical competence and continual quality management. Fewer than 20 laboratories in the United States have been awarded the stringent CAP 15189 Accreditation.

Educating our Peers. National Jewish Health has received Accreditation with Commendation from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). This is the highest level of ACCME accreditation, and is based in part on evidence that physicians have incorporated the information they learned into their daily practices.