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St. Luke's University Health Network Earns the Richard L. Doyle Award

St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN), based in Pennsylvania, has achieved significant recognition in the healthcare industry with its recent receipt of the 2025 Richard L. Doyle Award for Innovation and Leadership. This award, given by MCG Health, underscores SLUHN's remarkable initiatives aimed at improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes, particularly through its innovative High Utilizer Care Program (HUCP).

The Doyle Award is designed to honor organizations that utilize innovative care models and evidence-based guidance to foster improvements in care quality, efficiency, and cost reduction. St. Luke’s was recognized particularly for its ongoing efforts to minimize unnecessary emergency room visits and hospital readmissions.

Specifically, SLUHN created the High Utilizer Care Program to enhance care coordination for patients who frequently seek emergency and inpatient services, often without achieving better health results. The program not only integrates detailed individualized care plans into their electronic health records but also employs the MCG Chronic Care guidelines. This ensures unified collaboration among multidisciplinary teams, encompassing both inpatient and outpatient settings, behavioral health, and community resources.

Since the launch of HUCP, the network has reported impressive outcomes, including a 39% decrease in emergency department visits for enrolled patients, a dramatic 50% reduction in inpatient admissions, and a 42% reduction in total hospital charges. Moreover, engagement in outpatient services saw a notable increase, clearly demonstrating the effectiveness of this program in redirecting care to more appropriate settings.

The financial implications are also substantial; over the last three years, the efforts of the High Utilizer Care Program have resulted in an estimated $400 million in cost savings, underscoring the dual benefit of improving patient care while also managing healthcare costs effectively.

Rebecca Miller, the Network Director of Outpatient Care Management at SLUHN, expressed pride in receiving the Doyle Award, stating, "Our High Utilizer Care Program reflects our commitment to compassionate, coordinated, and value-driven care. This recognition highlights the dedication of teams across our network who work diligently to enhance continuity and address both social and clinical needs for our patients."

Jon Shreve, President and CEO of MCG Health, praised SLUHN for exemplifying how patient-centered innovation can dramatically enhance healthcare outcomes. He emphasized the importance of combining compassion with clinical excellence in delivering effective healthcare services.

The recipients of the Doyle Award are evaluated by an independent panel of healthcare experts, ensuring a fair and objective recognition of excellence in healthcare innovation. SLUHN's successful implementation of their award-winning initiative will be highlighted during the MCG Client Forum scheduled for June 1–3, 2026, in Aventura, Florida, where team members will share valuable insights.

About St. Luke's University Health Network

St. Luke's University Health Network stands as a non-profit, fully integrated healthcare organization, boasting a broad network of 16 campuses and over 350 service sites across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Their commitment to quality care has repeatedly gained national recognition, with their system being ranked first by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2025 among top health systems for patient safety and experience.

About the Richard L. Doyle Award

Named after Dr. Richard L. Doyle, the award seeks to honor those who significantly contribute to improving healthcare efficiency and quality using innovative methodologies. Judging criteria include improvements in healthcare quality, patient safety, and overall satisfaction, utilizing MCG's evidence-based approach to healthcare delivery.

About MCG Health

MCG Health is a trusted provider of clinical guidance within the healthcare industry, integrating evidence-based guidelines and analytics to facilitate smart clinical decisions. Their resources are widely utilized across health plans, hospitals, and government agencies in delivering high-quality care while managing costs effectively.

This recognition of SLUHN's achievements reinforces the critical role of innovative care models in shaping the future of healthcare delivery.