UTMB Health pediatric services earn national quality recognition
Photo courtesy of University of Texas Medical Branch
The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Health) has been named a top performer in Vizient’s Bernard A. Birnbaum Quality and Accountability Awards for pediatric hospitals for the second consecutive year.
UTMB Health is the only academic medical center in Texas to receive the distinction. The award recognizes work spanning July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and reflects performance in pediatric hospital services.
“Receiving this recognition for a second consecutive year is a source of pride for our entire health system,” said Gulshan Sharma, MD, MPH, FCCP, senior vice president and chief medical and clinical innovation officer at UTMB Health. Sharma said the recognition reflects the efforts of UTMB team members who provide inpatient care for children and support their families.
The Vizient Quality and Accountability Study enables participating hospitals and health systems to compare performance with peers and identify structures and processes linked to high performance in quality and safety. This year, 1,346 participating hospitals were divided into seven cohorts.
The study measures six patient-care domains: safety, mortality, effectiveness, efficiency, patient-centeredness and variation in care. It uses data from the Vizient Clinical Data Base, the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network.
Along with a top-performer, five-star rating for pediatric hospital services, UTMB Health received four-star ratings for its ambulatory and inpatient services.
“Recognition like this is meaningful because it reflects the work happening across our pediatric programs every day,” said Sanjeev Tuli, MD, MEd, MBA, FAAP, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at UTMB Health. Tuli said caring for children requires a team effort and that the organization was proud to see that commitment recognized nationally.
UTMB’s Best Care initiative supports systemwide efforts to provide consistent, high-quality care and improve safety and outcomes for children. Vizient presented the awards Sept. 23 during the 2026 Vizient Connections Summit in Las Vegas.