Excellent Outcomes
Excellent Health Outcomes for All
Excellent Health Outcomes for All embodies the principle that every individual should have an equal and just chance to achieve optimal health. It prompts us to consider fundamental questions: Do we value the idea of everyone having a fair opportunity to attain their best possible health? What are the repercussions when this opportunity is denied? Understanding the importance of Excellent Health Outcomes for All is crucial, as it not only impacts individuals but also affects our hospital and community.
Reflecting on instances where people have been denied this opportunity can provide insight into the underlying causes and potential solutions. A commitment to Excellent Health Outcomes for All can significantly influence our approach to work and interactions with patients, fostering a more inclusive and compassionate healthcare environment.
“Excellent Health Outcomes For All” is a framework and priority in which every patient receives safe, high-quality health care and organizations systematically identify and address differences in care and outcomes across patient groups so that all individuals can achieve optimal health results.”
“Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. This requires removing obstacles to health, such as poverty, discrimination and their consequences, including powerlessness and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, safe environments, and health care.”
Overall Goals toward Achieving Excellent Outcomes
To make sure everyone has a fair chance at being healthy, some organizations use a plan with five parts. This plan helps them work towards making sure everyone has good health. At RUMC, they’re using this plan to show they’re serious about making sure everyone has a fair chance at being healthy.
- Strategic Priority
- Infrastructure to Support Excellent Outcomes
- Address the Multiple Determinants of Health
- Eliminate Forms of Oppression
- Partner with the Community
Wyatt R, Laderman M, Botwinick L, Mate K, Whittington J. Achieving Health Equity: A Guide for Health Care Organizations. IHI White Paper. Cambridge, MA: Institute for Healthcare Improvement; 2016.
In 2023, Richmond University Medical Center launched a mission to ensure Excellent Health Outcomes for All. Our primary goal is to understand how factors such as where people are born, grow, live, play, and age influence health. We are committed to identifying and removing barriers that prevent individuals from receiving high‑quality healthcare and achieving the best possible health outcomes.
Consistent with the mission, vision, and values of Richmond University Medical Center, this plan supports the delivery of consistent, safe, and high‑quality care, treatment, and services. It establishes the framework for the medical center’s efforts to promote Excellent Health Outcomes for All by addressing disparities in access, care, and outcomes.
The medical center’s commitment to excellent outcomes is supported by a suite of organizational competencies provided by CMS and The Joint Commission (TJC), all focused on achieving Excellent Health Outcomes for All, including people living with mental illness, individuals with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with limited English proficiency, rural populations, religious minorities, and those facing socioeconomic challenges.
This is an organization‑wide effort brought to life through collaboration across departments and interdisciplinary teams. Dedicated groups, including collaboratives focused on LGBTQ+ health, maternal health, and outcomes improvement, work in unison to create a more inclusive and supportive healthcare environment for our community.
Excellent Health Outcomes for All is a foundational concept grounded in the principle that every individual should have the opportunity to achieve their highest level of health and well‑being. It requires eliminating disparities in health outcomes and access to care, regardless of social or economic background. Achieving this goal involves dismantling systemic barriers such as poverty, discrimination, and social disadvantage, while addressing root causes and their long‑term effects—including limited access to employment, education, housing, safe environments, and comprehensive healthcare.
A focus on excellent outcomes is central to advancing Richmond University Medical Center’s mission to improve the well‑being of our patients and the Staten Island community. Our steadfast commitment is to foster an inclusive, compassionate, and just environment where every patient and community member has the opportunity to thrive.
RUMC’s “Excellent Health Outcomes For All” Statement
At Richmond University Medical Center, our unwavering commitment to EHO4all drives us to pursue a vision of quality care. Excellent Health Outcomes For All stands as a strategic priority, and we are diligently establishing a robust infrastructure to champion this cause. By systematically gathering and stratifying demographic and health-related social needs (HRSNs) data, we aim to address health disparities and eradicate oppressive forces.
To elevate our Excellent Health Outcomes For All initiatives, our hospital is forging partnerships with organizations and stakeholders. Together, we aspire to link at-risk patients with vital community resources, fostering an environment where they can not only overcome challenges but thrive.
Community Resources
To Provide the Best Care, Understanding You is Essential
Richmond University Medical Center is wholeheartedly dedicated to your health and well-being. In our commitment to delivering exceptional care, we seek to know you better by gathering comprehensive information about your racial background, ethnicity, preferred language, and gender identity. This data enables us to customize our care to meet your specific needs and preferences.
Age-Friendly Care for Older Adults
As part of our commitment to advancing excellent outcomes, Richmond University Medical Center proudly participates in the national Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative, ensuring that older adult receives care that aligns with their goals, respects their preferences, and promotes their independence.
Our Age-Friendly approach is grounded in the 4Ms Framework:
- What Matters: We listen to and honor what matters most to each older adult.
- Medication: We use age-appropriate medications that do not interfere with function or well-being.
- Mentation: We prioritize the prevention, detection, and management of dementia, depression, and delirium.
- Mobility: We help older adults maintain safe mobility to support function and prevent falls.
Through innovative programs like our Tent Card Initiative, we center each patient’s voice by encouraging care teams to engage in brief conversations at the bedside, capturing what matters most to the individual and displaying it as a visible reminder for all staff. This simple yet impactful tool fosters person-centered care and supports interdisciplinary collaboration.
In 2023, Richmond University Medical Center was proud to receive Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA), a three-year accreditation that reflects our dedication to providing exceptional, age-appropriate care in the Emergency Department. GEDA not only ensures that the appropriate resources and training are in place to support older adults, but also signals to the public that our hospital meets the highest standards in caring for the ageing members of our community.
Age-Friendly care is equitable care—because aging with dignity, respect, and safety should be a right, not a privilege.
LGBTQ+ Patient-Centered Care
We are proud to share that Richmond University Medical Center has been awarded High Performer recognition by the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) in 2026. The HEI is a nationally recognized benchmarking survey that evaluates the policies and practices of healthcare institutions related to the inclusion and equitable treatment of LGBTQIA+ patients and employees.
This achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering high‑quality, inclusive, and compassionate care for all individuals, including LGBTQIA+ patients, employees, and the communities we serve. We remain dedicated to continuously improving our policies, practices, and culture to ensure that everyone receives care rooted in respect, dignity, and excellence.
We are honored by this recognition and will continue to work diligently to strengthen our services, advocacy, and support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
- HEI LGBTQ+ Patient-Centered Care Information
- Pride Center of Staten Island
- NYC LGBTQ+ Patient Bill of Rights English / Spanish
- LGBTQ+ Understanding Stress
Understanding and Navigating Minority stress. Break the stigma and provide a healthier future - LGBTQ+ HIV Support
Learn more about RUMCs mission to provide the best high-quality inclusive care
