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New England Journal of Medicine heralds OU Health transformation as Oklahoma's flagship Academic Health System. NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery, a publication of the New England Journal of Medicine, has published an in-depth account of OU Health's ongoing transformation as the state's flagship academic health system, validating a vision that began five years ago to fully align the University of Oklahoma's education, research and clinical care missions to create one of Oklahoma's most valued assets. That alignment established OU Health as the state's unparalleled resource for complex health care. Today, OU Health is a growing enterprise that sees nearly one million patients a year, providing Oklahoma's largest array of specialists and subspecialists for the most complex cases and providing access to cutting-edge clinical trials, novel therapies and the latest medical advances. "In a remarkably short time, OU Health has made transformational progress that is changing outcomes for Oklahomans and advancing our academic health system's ability to serve communities across the state," said University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz Jr. "This recognition by the New England Journal of Medicine affirms what is possible when mission, leadership and culture are fully aligned. OU Health's turnaround reflects a renewed commitment to excellence in patient care, education and discovery, and most importantly, to the people of Oklahoma we are called to serve." The article, "Turning Around an Academic Health System by Reshaping Culture and Improving Performance," highlights that these outcomes were only possible because of the foundational work that began with the 2021 merger, which unified OU Health under a single, academically driven structure and eliminated reliance on a for-profit system that sent profits out of state. This three-year effort addressed structural realities that had previously prevented success, creating the conditions necessary to recruit the exceptional leadership team who reshaped the organization's culture, priorities and operations. This structural transformation was the essential first step that enabled the measurable improvements in patient care, safety, financial performance and statewide impact now recognized by the New England Journal of Medicine. "This is about fulfilling the covenant the University of Oklahoma and OU Health made with this state: Oklahoma deserves a true academic health system," said Richard P. Lofgren, M.D., M.P.H., president and CEO of OU Health. "When education, research and clinical care work together, the result is better outcomes for patients, a stronger workforce and healthier communities. NEJM Catalyst confirms we are on the right path." In addition to the financial turnaround and increasing investment in health-related research funding, other metrics reflect meaningful progress: reductions in hospital-acquired infections and mortality, an improved safety culture and rising patient volumes. In addition, community hospitals statewide increasingly rely on OU Health for specialty consultations, complex transfers and telemedicine access to subspecialists that bring expert, advanced care to patients close to home. The OU College of Medicine trains most of Oklahoma's physicians, many of whom remain in the state to practice, directly strengthening the statewide health care workforce. With a strong leadership team in place and the health system's finances on a solid upward trajectory, Harroz said there are plans to tackle new, health-related goals on behalf of the state: reducing statewide cancer mortality by 10 percent in the next five years and decreasing diabetes-related complications by 30 percent. OU Health's presence continues to grow, with new facilities and expanded services at Stephenson Cancer Center in Norman and McAlester, and a new Tulsa location set to open in 2028. The University also is working toward doubling the number of patients enrolled in clinical trials to further improve the health outcomes across Oklahoma, and there is an increased commitment to expanding enrollment in health programs to help meet the state's workforce needs with a focus on addressing the urgent shortage of healthcare providers in rural communities.

Oklahoma Children's OU Health earns ELSO Gold Center of Excellence designation. * Category: News, Children * Posted On: Dec 30, 2025 When a child's heart or lungs fail, every second counts. Families across Oklahoma's 77 counties can trust they're receiving world-class care at Oklahoma Children's OU Health, which has earned the prestigious Gold Center of Excellence designation from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO). This national recognition affirms the hospital's expertise in delivering lifesaving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment to critically ill children. ELSO recognizes programs worldwide that have systems processes and procedures in place that promote excellence and exceptional care. The Gold Center of Excellence designation, which is effective Jan. 1, 2026, places Oklahoma Children's among an elite group nationwide and confirms its ability to deliver the highest level of care when seconds matter. In 2024, Oklahoma Children's provided 39 seriously ill children with ECMO. This year, the hospital estimates it will provide 35 to 40 ECMO treatments. As part of the University of Oklahoma's academic health system - and the state's only comprehensive pediatric provider with a statewide network of experts and clinics - Oklahoma Children's offers the expertise, technology and outcomes needed to treat the most critically ill children without requiring families to leave Oklahoma. "This recognition from ELSO is a reflection of the incredible teamwork, training and dedication it takes to care for the sickest children. Families can feel confident knowing that their child is being treated at one of the top pediatric ECMO centers in the country," said pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Harold Burkhart, M.D., pediatric cardiothoracic surgical program director at OU Health and professor of surgery and chief of the Division of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. ECMO is a sophisticated technology that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs when a child is too sick to survive without support. It can mean the difference between life and death - buying time for tiny hearts and lungs to heal or for a child to receive transplant. Earning Gold Center status requires more than advanced equipment. It means having a team of highly specialized doctors, nurses, surgeons, perfusionists and technicians available 24/7. Their coordinated efforts drive a program that continuously measures outcomes, improves care and follows best practices to give critically ill children the best chance at survival and recovery. Oklahoma Children's treats newborns with severe heart defects, children with life-threatening infections, teenagers in cardiac arrest and patients whose lungs are failing from pneumonia or other conditions. These are the patients who need more than any standard intensive care unit can provide. In addition to ELSO recognition, Oklahoma Children's heart program is ranked among the top 50 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, reflecting its excellence in pediatric cardiac care and outcomes. Building on this, the recent announcement of the expansion of the pediatric heart program, supported by a historic $20 million gift from the Presbyterian Health Foundation and $200 million in state funding, will establish the Oklahoma Children's OU Health Presbyterian Health Foundation Heart Center. A new 200,500-square-foot facility will open in 2030 and centralize cardiac services, increase inpatient capacity and enhance surgical, diagnostic and transplant capabilities, ensuring more children can receive advanced heart care without leaving the state. As part of OU Health's academic mission, the center will also integrate research, education and clinical excellence in a child-focused environment designed to support healing, innovation and hope. "These types of recognitions reflect our unwavering commitment to providing the highest level of care," said Paul Paulisich, MSN, R.N., NE-BC, associate vice president of the Oklahoma Children's OU Health Presbyterian Health Foundation Heart Center. "We take this opportunity to celebrate our accomplishments with our teams. At the same time, we look to see how we can continue to innovate and provide even better care." When your child needs advanced care recognized among the nation's best, you can find it here in Oklahoma. As a part of the state's flagship academic health system, OU Health combines patient care with research and education, constantly advancing what is possible in healthcare while changing lives through discovery and healing. The ELSO Gold Center of Excellence designation reinforces that commitment and confirms Oklahoma Children's standing among the nation's leading pediatric hospitals. For more information about pediatric critical care services at Oklahoma Children's OU Health, visit OklahomaChildrens.org.