Dedicated to Quality and Pricing Transparency

Providing quality care has always been part of Baylor's mission. This commitment is a necessity today as consumers, government leaders and insurance providers request more openness and accountability. Surveys such as the National Research Corporation's Image Survey consistently show that the public ranks Baylor above all other health care organizations in North Texas in quality of care, image and reputation, as well as best doctors and nurses.

Our Patient's Perception of Care

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began a nationally sponsored patient satisfaction survey in October 2006. Acute care hospitals throughout Baylor Health Care System took part in this survey. Specialty hospitals such as long term care and rehabilitative facilities were not eligible to participate, and new hospitals require nearly two full years after opening to report data. Effective March 2008, the public can compare participating hospitals' outcomes of these surveys from the previous year of patient discharges. The website for comparing hospitals is: www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov or www.medicare.gov (select 'Compare Hospitals in Your Area')

"In today's environment, success belongs to the health care providers that serve patients best, those that meet or exceed the demand for quality care, service, convenience and flexibility at reasonable cost, and those that inspire patient trust and consumer loyalty. Baylor Health Care System is committed to being this kind of organization."

David Ballard, M.D., Ph.D. Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer Baylor Health Care System  

Making a "Clinical Transformation"

Quality, safe compassionate care is the priority at Baylor – clinical excellence requires a reexamination of all that Baylor does – it demands a "clinical transformation." That is why Baylor has made it a top priority to improve quality and safety in patient care. Baylor is investing $149 million in its "clinical transformation" initiative and views it as a long-term, multifaceted approach that is improving how care is delivered. It provides caregivers the opportunity to spend more time with patients. And through the use of evidence-based practices and innovative technologies, "clinical transformation" is helping Baylor advance the consistent delivery of safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable and patient-centered care. Baylor has sent 359 health care professionals to quality improvement classes as the organization strives to improve quality and patient safety system-wide. A "clinical transformation" is vital to advancing Baylor's vision of being trusted as the best place to give and receive safe, quality, compassionate health care.

Specialty Hospitals, a Model of Quality

Part of Baylor's strategy to implement safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable and patient-centered care calls for new models of delivery, such as specialty hospitals and joint ventures. And aligning with physicians is key. For many years, Baylor has operated specialty hospitals, including Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation, Baylor Specialty Hospital and Our Children's House at Baylor. And in keeping with its long history of aligning with physicians, in 1994 Baylor launched HealthTexas Provider Network, a physician group that started with 10 physicians and now employs more than 400. In 1997, Baylor began partnering with physicians through United Surgical Partners International (USPI). Today, with USPI, Baylor has five short-stay surgical hospitals throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area and offers 18 day surgery centers designed to provide care for patients undergoing elective surgery. Baylor's joint ventures with physicians also include the Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital (BHVH), which opened in 2002, and THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano, which opened in January 2007. This operational model consistently produces quality patient care outcomes. And in terms of patient satisfaction, BHVH shows the highest levels of inpatient and outpatient satisfaction recorded at Baylor Health Care System.