LLUH Chief of Quality and Patient Safety receives national recognition from Becker’s Hospital Review

Ihab Dorotta, MD, Loma Linda University Medical Center’s Chief of Quality and Patient Safety, has received national recognition as one of Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2024 list of “90 Patient Safety Experts to Know.” The Becker’s list recognized experts nationwide who are prominent advocates dedicated to continuously finding innovative ways to improve healthcare processes and transform safety standards, ensuring a safer experience for patients. Honorees include clinicians, advocacy group leaders, professors, researchers, administrators, and healthcare providers.

Dr. Dorotta sets the strategic direction for Loma Linda University Health’s systemwide quality and safety programs. Under his leadership, LLUH’s 50-member quality team follows a series of detailed protocols designed to minimize errors and enhance favorable outcomes. Dorotta and his team devote much time and energy to uncovering the root causes of complications, with a goal of not only determining what happened but how the organization can improve. He actively engages with the entire healthcare team to infuse the organization’s commitment to safety and quality into each department and service.

Under Dr. Dorotta’s leadership, Loma Linda University Medical Center regularly receives some of the best quality ratings in the country. Loma Linda University Medical Center and East Campus have received Leapfrog “A” Safety Grades for 12 consecutive reporting cycles. Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital has received the Leapfrog Top Children’s Hospital in six of the last seven years. 

His leadership also led the way in improving the hospital’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services quality rating score to a 4-star hospital. The improvement was primarily driven by a reduction in hospital-acquired infections and other inpatient complications. His team’s efforts also led to decreased readmissions, increased patient satisfaction and significantly better performance on quality pay-for-performance programs for the institution. His team has successfully created and instituted multiple clinical pathways aimed at decreasing variations in clinical care. These improvements in quality have improved patient outcomes and have produced monetary savings for the institution. Dr. Dorotta says receiving this recognition reflects his team's devotion, the support of administration, and the collaboration of our care teams in the commitment to providing the safest care possible.

“It has been an honor to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with physicians, nurses, and experts to help bring in tremendous results that will, at the end of the day, meet our top priority: saving the lives of our patients through a safe hospital environment,” Dr. Dorotta says. “We will continue to raise the standard of patient safety and care and be known as an institution that delivers world-class care.”