ECH > About Us > Commitment to Quality

Commitment to Quality

At the University of Vermont Health Network - Elizabethtown Community Hospital, we are committed to providing safe, effective, and timely patient care. To make sure patients receive the best possible care, Elizabethtown Community Hospital tracks performance in quality measures and quality plans across the full continuum of care and leads a number of quality initiatives.

Quality care benefits the patient and ensures that the hospital can continue to receive funding including payment from Medicaid and Medicare, government-sponsored grants, and community support. We strive to meet or exceed many Department of Health initiatives and national patient safety goals.

Quality is everyone's job at Elizabethtown Community Hospital. Our Quality Improvement Committee (Board of Directors) provides strategic direction, the Quality Department oversees initiatives and the entire staff contributes to quality care. Elizabethtown Community Hospital has received five Guardian of Excellence Awards.

Community Service Plan

A Community Service Plan is a document prepared by the hospital to provide information about our outreach programs, services and activities.

The Complaint Process

We encourage patients and their families to share concerns with our staff so issues can be addressed in a timely manner. However, if an issue cannot be resolved by speaking with a staff member or if you feel uncomfortable discussing the issue with staff, we invite you to contact our Quality Department at 518-585-3761.

Staffing Concerns

If you have staffing concerns about the care you received at Elizabethtown Community Hospital, please complete and submit the form below.

Name (Optional):

Date of Staffing Occurrence*:

Time of Occurrence*:

Department*:

Unit:

How does the assignment of personnel vary from the staffing plan?:

If you would like to elaborate further, please use the free text box below. (do not include any patient identifiers):

PLEASE INDICATE WHO YOU REPORTED THE VARIATION TO (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY).:

What solutions were applied?:

What was the outcome of the solutions?:

Captcha*:

Addressing Unresolved Concerns

If for any reason your concerns remain unaddressed, you may contact the following agencies to report concerns or to register a complaint:

The Joint Commission
(800) 994-6610
Send an email

The New York State Department of Health
Centralized Hospital Intake Program
875 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12206
(800) 804-5447
Send an email

Stay Informed

CARE Partners at ECH

At the University of Vermont Health Network - Elizabethtown Community Hospital (ECH), we engage with the patient and a designated "CARE partner" to ensure the delivery of high-quality care and a safe transition to home. A CARE partner is someone who can assist the patient throughout the hospital stay and at home. A CARE partner is an important resource for the patient's care.

Hospital staff support CARE partners by keeping them informed of patient progress and coordinating with them to develop a discharge plan. Often, care partners help identify the patient and family goals for a safe discharge.

For more information on CARE partners at ECH, please contact our discharge manager at
(518) 873-3004.

The UVM Connection

Elizabethtown Community Hospital is part of The University of Vermont Health Network, a six-hospital network serving patients and their families in northern New York and Vermont. Our 4,000 health care professionals are driven to provide high-quality, cost-efficient care as close to home as possible.

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Commitment to Quality

Commitment to Quality

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Addressing Unresolved Concerns

Stay Informed

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