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Dr. Reginald Washington and Being in the Room Where It Happens!
care. This process is centered around quality outcomes, training, equipment, and clinical pathways. This model is now used by 18 hospitals across four states, reflecting a practical approach to improving standards. Dr. Washington’s leadership led to noteworthy improvements in quality rankings, including clinical metrics like mortality rates, surgical site infections, ventilator use days, and C-section rates. There are six pediatric hospitals across HCA Healthcare’s 185 hospitals. The shift from 5/6 to 2/6 when comparing RMHC to similar hospitals within HCA Healthcare demonstrated a commitment to excellence and patient safety during Dr. Washington’s tenure as CMO. While serving as the President of the American Heart Association of Colorado from
1989 to 1991 Dr. Washington initiated programs to promote screening for high blood pressure and cholesterol in minority communities, earning him the title Volunteer of the Year in 1989. Beyond his role at the American Heart Association, Dr. Washington remained deeply committed to the community serving as the Chairman of the Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness for the National American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) from 1990 to 2004. This showcased his commitment to the overall well-being of children. His involvement in the Expert Committee on Assessment and Prevention of Childhood Obesity (AMA, CDC) and the Expert Panel on Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in Children (NIH), highlighted his dedication to addressing
By LANYE BANKS
In the field of healthcare, certain individuals stand out for their commitment to positive change. Dr. Reginald Washington, a Black Pediatric Cardiologist and retired Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Presbyterian/ St. Luke’s Medical Center and Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children (RMHC), is one such figure. During his CMO tenure from 2008-2023, Dr. Washington played a crucial role in transforming pediatric care. A notable achievement was the development of an affiliation process used in hospitals for the delivery of pediatric
34 The Acumen
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