Press Ganey Pinnacle of Excellence Award

Jan 05, 2021 9:00 AM

Author: Carley Lehauli

Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah (U of U) received the Press Ganey Pinnacle of Excellence Award for their high performance in outpatient clinics.

“It’s an honor,” says Don Milligan, MBA, executive director of HCI Hospital. “This award is given to the highest performing health care institutions in the nation. The truly meaningful aspect is that this award is based on how our patients feel about us. Ensuring we provide safe, effective, and high-quality patient care is at the center of all we do. Working at HCI Hospital and having the opportunity to be part of this mission is incredible.”

The award recognizes hospitals that have had consistent high levels over the last three years in patient experience, employee engagement, physician engagement, or clinical quality performance. HCI was in the top three highest scores for exceptional patient experience.  

“Being recognized doesn’t just happen because of kindness towards patients,” says Mari Ransco, MA, the senior director of patient experience for U of U Health. “It takes years of dedication and operational focus on making every part of the patient journey—from outreach and scheduling to inpatient stays, recovery, and screening—a coordinated and compassionate experience. For more than 10 years, Huntsman Cancer Institute’s staff, faculty, and leaders have demonstrated continuous pursuit of excellence. This award is truly a reflection of the teamwork of thousands of people working with singular focus on creating an exceptional patient experience.”