Quality and Safety

At Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), we make a promise to each patient who comes to us for care: That they will receive the highest quality health services in an environment of safety, respect, and support. From preventing infections on inpatient floors to fostering trust and comfort in exam rooms, every member of the CUIMC community is personally committed and professionally trained to uphold these institutional standards.

Katrina Armstrong, MD, CEO of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, has led a renewed focus on quality and patient safety (QPS) since her arrival in 2022, investing in plans to design and expand an ambitious structure of policies, training, and governance. The new Quality, Safety & Patient Experience Committee, led by two of CUIMC’s most admired department chairs, supports a wide range of initiatives to ensure safe, efficient, and exceptional care for all we serve.

And we’re not done. Through ongoing investment of resources and talent, we will continue to examine detailed metrics, improve feedback mechanisms, and monitor performance to assess the effectiveness of our efforts, year over year.

We strive to raise QPS standards well above the industry baseline and lead healthcare institutions in developing innovative approaches to key quality and safety areas. For our patients and their loved ones, we welcome each visit, each procedure, and each overnight stay as an opportunity to honor our promise of quality and safety and to achieve the best possible health outcomes.