Virginia Healthcare System Recognized for Advancing Surgical Services Through Physician-Led Governance, Collaboration, and Sustainable Performance Improvement

CHICAGO, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Surgical Directions today announced that Carilion Clinic has been named its 2025 Client of the Year, recognizing the health system’s leadership in advancing perioperative performance through physician-led governance, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a sustained commitment to operational excellence.

The annual award recognizes a healthcare organization that demonstrates exceptional leadership, measurable performance improvement, and a commitment to advancing patient care through innovative approaches to perioperative operations. Carilion was selected for its work to strengthen the infrastructure, governance, and collaboration that support high-performing surgical services across the organization.

Headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, Carilion serves nearly 1 million Virginians through a comprehensive network of hospitals, physician practices, and healthcare services. The organization has continued to invest in the evolution of its surgical services, with a focus on improving access, strengthening collaboration among clinical leaders, and creating a sustainable framework for continuous improvement.

A key element of that work has been the development of an integrated perioperative governance structure that brings surgeons, anesthesiologists, nursing leaders, and hospital executives together around shared goals, performance measures, and strategic priorities.

The result is a sustainable perioperative engine that supports ongoing improvement while keeping clinicians and operational leaders closely engaged in the decisions that shape surgical services.

“Carilion is an excellent example of what can happen when a health system brings its clinical and operational leaders together around a shared vision for surgical excellence,” said Joan Stroud Cox, Nursing Consultant, MBA-HCM, BSN, RN, at Surgical Directions. “Their leaders have created a strong foundation for collaboration and accountability, and they continue to build on that foundation. We are proud to recognize the work Carilion’s physicians, nurses, administrators, and staff have accomplished and the momentum they have created for the future.”

At the center of Carilion’s approach is a physician-led Surgical Services Executive Committee that brings together key stakeholders across surgery, anesthesia, nursing, and administration to guide strategic decisions and support performance across the perioperative enterprise.

Carilion also established multidisciplinary performance improvement teams, standardized operational metrics, advanced block scheduling practices, and strengthened communication across departments. Together, these efforts have supported measurable improvements in surgical operations and patient access.

The outcomes the Carilion team achieved through the initiative include:

• Improved first-case on-time starts.
• Reduced operating room turnover times through standardized processes and enhanced multidisciplinary coordination.
• Improved utilization of surgical capacity and expanded patient access.
• Established physician-led governance structures that continue to operate and evolve today.
• Strengthened collaboration among surgeons, anesthesiologists, nursing leaders, and hospital administration.
• Developed internal leadership capabilities that support continuous performance improvement.

“One of the things that makes Carilion’s work so impressive is the way they have made continuous improvement part of their long-term approach to surgical services,” said Leslie Basham, President and CEO of Surgical Directions. “They have built the structures and relationships needed to bring the right people together, use data to guide decisions, and keep improvement moving forward. We are honored to recognize Carilion and the people across their organization who have made this work possible.”

For Carilion, the work has extended beyond individual performance initiatives. The governance model provides an ongoing framework for evaluating priorities, coordinating improvement efforts, and advancing the strategic goals of the surgical services enterprise.

“Our success was never just about improving a few metrics. It was about creating a sustainable system for continuous improvement,” said Stephen Lovern, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, Vice President, Department of Surgery and Anesthesia at Carilion. “By bringing surgeons, anesthesiologists, nursing leaders, and administrators together through a shared governance structure, we created an environment where accountability, transparency, and collaboration drive better decisions every day.”

“Surgical Directions helped us build the foundation, but the real achievement belongs to our physicians, nurses, and staff who embraced the work and continue to advance it. We are honored to receive this recognition and proud of what our teams have accomplished for our patients and communities.”

The partnership between Carilion and Surgical Directions reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the systems that support high-performing surgical services. Through physician-to-physician and clinician-to-clinician collaboration, Surgical Directions worked alongside Carilion’s teams to support the development of governance structures, performance improvement processes, and operational strategies designed to remain effective beyond the initial engagement.

Today, the governance structures established through this work continue to guide strategic decisions, support operational performance, and advance patient access across Carilion’s surgical services enterprise.

“Carilion’s journey demonstrates what is possible when a health system builds on the expertise and commitment already within its organization and creates the structures to bring that expertise together,” Basham added. “Their commitment to collaboration, accountability, and patient-centered excellence has made them a deserving recipient of our 2025 Client of the Year Award.”

The Client of the Year Award is presented annually by Surgical Directions to recognize healthcare organizations that exemplify innovation, leadership, and measurable achievement in advancing perioperative performance and patient care.

ABOUT CARILION CLINIC

Carilion Clinic is a not-for-profit healthcare organization headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia. Through a comprehensive network of hospitals, primary and specialty physician practices, and other healthcare services, Carilion provides quality care close to home for nearly 1 million Virginians. Guided by its mission to improve the health of the communities it serves, Carilion advances patient care through clinical excellence, medical education, research, and community partnerships that strengthen the health and well-being of the region. Learn more at CarilionClinic.org, and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn,  and YouTube. 

ABOUT SURGICAL DIRECTIONS

Surgical Directions is a healthcare solutions company specializing in perioperative and procedural care, sterile processing, anesthesiology, and radiology services. With a unique clinician-led model and proprietary analytics platform, Merlin™, the firm empowers hospitals and provider groups to drive measurable improvements in access, efficiency, and financial performance. From supply chain optimization to governance redesign, Surgical Directions delivers peer-to-peer partnership and clinical expertise that helps clients provide quality care and improve margins. Learn more at www.surgicaldirections.com.

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SOURCE Surgical Directions