Our vision at HonorHealth is to be the very best healthcare system in Arizona. This vision isn’t just about big-picture goals; it’s about the tangible improvements we make every day to support our teams and provide the best care for our patients. The work being done across our campuses and in our Medical Group is a testament to this shared commitment.

Here’s a look at some of the recent achievements and ongoing initiatives that highlight our collective progress.

Enhancing patient care and operational efficiency

Our commitment to our patients is at the heart of everything we do. By refining our processes, we’re not only improving outcomes but also making our daily work more efficient.

• Emergency department (ED) excellence: Our high-volume campuses have sustained a low rate of patients leaving without being seen (LWBS) at less than 3% for the last seven months, while medium-volume campuses have maintained this low rate for eight months. A new ED-to-inpatient handoff process has also successfully decreased the average ED length of stay by 30 minutes, getting patients to the next stage of their care faster. We’re also working to decrease sepsis mortality by using a new sepsis order set and developing a high-risk protocol for patient handoffs.
• Primary care improvements: To streamline care, a new “Bill & Buy LARCs” initiative now allows our offices to purchase long-acting contraception in advance, ensuring patients can get the care they need right away. For our providers, new “per diem coverage” for in-basket management helps them truly disconnect from work while on PTO, promoting a healthier work-life balance.
• Urgent care wins: We have successfully increased our staffing levels for both clinical and medical assistant teams. This has helped us maintain consistent operations and better support the broader group. We’ve also made strides in addressing clinician burnout by implementing flexible scheduling, which has been particularly helpful in allowing team members to take time off during the summer.

Strengthening our professional community

We’re deeply committed to your professional growth and well-being. These initiatives are focused on creating a more supportive and equitable environment for everyone.

• APP leadership and education: Our recent APP Grand Rounds was a great success, with over 75 attendees focused on professional development. We’re also rolling out a new leadership structure for our APPs. Early results show that having APP leaders closer to operations has been instrumental in identifying inefficiencies and building stronger, more collaborative teams. This new structure is proving to be impactful in fostering a positive and accountable culture.
• Celebrating women in medicine: We recently hosted an event for women physician leaders from across HonorHealth. The gathering recognized the essential role women play in helping us attract and retain the best talent to fulfill our mission. We’re proud to highlight these leaders and their significant contributions to our organization.

Looking ahead

We are continuing to innovate and improve. On the horizon, we’re working on:

• Reducing laboratory waste and improving efficiency by eradicating the “rainbow lab draw,” with a goal of decreasing lab turnaround time by 30 minutes.
• Exploring new technology like Epic AI for MyChart messages and ambient listening to help with charting and documentation.
• Utilizing a generous $50,000 grant from the HonorHealth Women’s Foundation to improve patient comfort and safety in the ED waiting and bereavement rooms. We’ll be sharing more on this project once it’s complete.

Thank you for your tireless dedication to our patients and to each other. Your hard work is what makes these achievements possible.