NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens Earns National Recognition As Center of Excellence In Surgical Safety
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens today announced its designation as a Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), the nation’s leading authority on perioperative nursing practice. This designation from the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses recognizes national leadership in perioperative innovation and evidence-based care. The recognition honors Queens Hospital’s commitment to improving patients’ physical and psychological well-being before, during, and after surgery through consistent, evidence based Enhanced Recovery practices.
“Achieving AORN’s ERAS Center of Excellence designation reflects our team’s dedication to continuous improvement and person-centered innovation,” said Neil Moore, MBA, MPA, MPH FACHE, Chief Executive Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. “This national recognition validates the collaboration, clinical excellence, and operational rigor of our perioperative services — all of which translate into safer surgeries and faster recoveries for the communities we serve.”
The First Facility Nationwide
“Achieving this designation as the very first facility nationwide is a testament to our team’s extraordinary collaboration, innovation, and dedication to person-centered care,” said Abbi-Gail Baboolal, DNP, MSN, RN, FNP, Chief Nursing Officer, Patient Care Services, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. “Our peri-op team has set a national standard for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols, paving the way for better outcomes across the country.”
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols
The Center of Excellence designation signifies that NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens has successfully completed AORN’s comprehensive ERAS program — an evidence based, multidisciplinary initiative focused on reducing postoperative complications, improving pain management, optimizing recovery, and strengthening team communication. “ERAS is changing how we approach surgical care by standardizing best practices across the perioperative pathway,” said Dave Holson, MD, Chief Medical Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. These protocols — combined with multidisciplinary collaboration and continuous training — deliver safer, more predictable recoveries and better outcomes for the people we serve.
“ERAS represents a major advancement in perioperative care — it’s not just about shorter stays, it’s about safer, more predictable recoveries,” said James O’Connor, MD, Chief of Surgery, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. “Our surgical teams embraced evidence-based pathways that keep people comfortable, reduce complications, and restore function more quickly.”
Key Initiatives for Surgical Safety
To earn this national recognition, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens completed a rigorous assessment and implemented a series of key initiatives, including:
- A comprehensive review and enhancement of ERAS related protocols across preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative care.
- Adoption of advanced technologies and state of the art equipment to support surgical safety and best practices, including the recent addition of robotic surgical capability to expand minimally invasive, precision procedures.
- Advanced education and high-fidelity simulation training for surgical teams, anesthesiology, nursing and perioperative staff to rehearse complex cases, refine communication, and reduce preventable errors.
- A strengthened culture of teamwork and psychological safety in the OR, empowering team members to speak up for safety and consistent, evidence-based care.
Multidisciplinary Leadership and Services
Mary Philip, MS, RN, CNOR, Director of Nursing, Peri op Services, led the perioperative team that developed and implemented the ERAS pathways, bringing together nursing, surgical, anesthesia, rehabilitation, and ancillary services to achieve this milestone. NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens provides a comprehensive range of surgical services to serve the diverse communities of Queens, as detailed in the table below:
| Category | Details and Examples |
|---|---|
| Surgical Services | General, colorectal, orthopedic, urology, gynecologic, and minimally invasive procedures. |
| Innovation | Investment in state-of-the-art equipment and addition of a surgical robot to expand minimally invasive, precision procedures. |
| Program Goal | Reducing postoperative complications, improving pain management, and optimizing recovery. |
In recent years, the hospital has modernized its surgical program through upgraded operating rooms and investment in state-of-the-art equipment. Under the leadership of Mary Philip, the Queens Hospital surgical team showcased their commitment to innovative practices and outstanding outcomes.