To the esteemed leadership and entire team at Hartford HealthCare, on behalf of everyone at Clover Health Services, we extend our sincerest congratulations on being named the 2025 recipient of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Quest for Quality Prize!
This prestigious award is a testament to your unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in healthcare, and it truly exemplifies why Hartford HealthCare is one of our most valued and trusted clients.
A Culture of Relentless Improvement at Hartford Healthcare
Your mantra, “the best at getting better,” resonates deeply with us and is clearly woven into the fabric of your entire health system. We’ve long admired Hartford HealthCare’s dedication to teamwork, high-reliability training, and a deeply ingrained quality methodology. The strong leadership involvement in quality, spearheaded by impactful programs and a steadfast focus on safety, accountability, and patient-centered care, sets a remarkable standard for the industry.
The journey from 2017, when your seven hospitals set the ambitious goal of achieving an “A” rating in safety from the Leapfrog Group to all of them earning that coveted grade within five years, is nothing short of inspiring. Jeffrey Flaks, your President and CEO has created a culture of continuous improvement that has yielded truly extraordinary results, including a remarkable 70% reduction in hospital-acquired infections between 2015 and 2023, and an exceptional Serious Safety Event Rate of 0.21 per 10,000 adjusted patient days at the end of fiscal 2023.
“You Are Never Alone”: A Pillar of Support
The powerful message, “You Are Never Alone,” prominently displayed at Hartford Hospital, beautifully encapsulates the spirit of teamwork and support that defines Hartford HealthCare. This sentiment, extending to staff, the community, and most importantly, patients and their families, speaks volumes about your patient-centric philosophy. It truly reinforces that when someone enters your care, they are supported every step of the way.
Your dedication to improving the quality of care is further exemplified by the Center for Education, Simulation and Innovation (CESI). As one of the largest and best-equipped medical simulation centers in the country, CESI serves as a vital hub for training and innovation.
The Clinical Care Redesign (CCR) program is another testament to your innovative spirit, seamlessly integrating quality and cost data to optimize care, eliminate unnecessary procedures, and standardizing protocols. Achieving consensus among clinical teams and involving nurses and physicians in contract negotiations are brilliant strategies that have led to significant savings.
Furthermore, your foresight in leveraging technology, such as the AI-enabled HHC 24/7app, underscores your understanding that access is a crucial component of quality healthcare. Providing patients with immediate connection to clinicians for primary care encounters is a truly groundbreaking innovation that significantly enhances patient care.
A Legacy of Distinction
Hartford HealthCare’s consistent recognition for quality and safety is well deserved and speaks volumes about your relentless pursuit of excellence. Your achievements, including:
- Perfect “A” grades for safety from the Leapfrog Group for all seven hospitals, making you one of only three health systems in the U.S. to achieve this.
- Perfect ratings in all cardiothoracic categories from the Society for Thoracic Surgery (STS), with Hartford Hospital ranking number one in the nation for mitral-valve surgery.
- The best one-year kidney graft survival rate in the nation is for Hartford HealthCare’s Transplant Program.
- Being the only health system in New England to meet Centers for Medicaid and Medicare standards for significantly reducing hospital-acquired infections.
- Earning the highest average Medicare Star Rating (4 stars) of any health system in Connecticut.
- Receiving 56 total awards and 5-star ratings from Healthgrades.
- Being named to Fortune’s list of America’s Most Innovative Companies.
- Receiving Modern Healthcare’s Innovators Award for groundbreaking efforts in AI.
These accolades are a powerful affirmation of your dedication and the exceptional quality of care you provide.
Clover Health Services is incredibly proud to partner with an organization as forward-thinking and dedicated to patient well-being like Hartford HealthCare. Your commitment to quality, safety, and innovation inspires us daily, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration in advancing healthcare. Congratulations once again on this remarkable achievement!
Disclaimer-
All third-party recognitions mentioned are publicly reported metrics as of July,2025, and are cited in acknowledgment of Hartford HealthCare’s achievements. Clover Health Services does not claim affiliation with the awarding organizations