Thomas R. Kelley, MD, Named Chief of Quality And Clinical Transformation At Orlando Health
Under his leadership, in 2013 South Seminole Hospital became the first Orlando Health facility to install and activate digital quality boards in public areas to provide medical outcomes data directly to patients and families.
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ORLANDO, Fla. (Thursday, July 23, 2015) — Orlando Health has named Thomas R. Kelley, MD, chief of quality and clinical transformation. His appointment will become effective August 1. Dr. Kelley has served as the system’s interim chief of quality and clinical transformation since March 2014. He has also served as chief quality officer of Orlando Health South Seminole Hospital in Longwood since March 2012 and will continue in that role until a new appointment is made.
“Dr. Kelley is a true champion for quality,” said David Strong, president and CEO, Orlando Health. We are extremely pleased to have him leading our quality efforts.”
“I have had the pleasure of working on quality efforts with Dr. Kelley for several years,” said Jamal Hakim, MD, chief operating officer for Orlando Health who also served as the organization’s first chief of quality and clinical transformation. “His guidance and direction have helped the organization tremendously in introducing and expanding initiatives to improve the quality of patient care.”
Under his leadership, in 2013 South Seminole Hospital became the first Orlando Health facility to install and activate digital quality boards in public areas to provide medical outcomes data directly to patients and families. The hospital was also the first Orlando Health facility to utilize the Xenex germ-fighting robot to keep healthcare associated infection rates low and patients safe. Results from a recently released study show the robot has resulted in nearly a 30 percent facility-wide decrease in infection rates. Both initiatives have since been introduced at all Orlando Health hospitals.
“I am honored to be appointed to this position,” said Dr. Kelley, “and to serve with the many other dedicated professionals at Orlando Health who are committed to providing high quality care.”
Dr. Kelley graduated from the Medical College of Georgia and completed his internship and residency at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Jacksonville. He worked as a faculty physician training residents at Atlanta Medical Center where he developed the first continuous quality improvement council for the residency program. He also started the only free clinic to serve the uninsured people of South Atlanta and was the founder of the Georgia Free Clinic Network.
Dr. Kelley began his affiliation with Orlando Health in 2009. In addition to his leadership quality roles, he has served on several key system-wide quality workgroups and chaired the corporate VTE (venous thromboembolism) taskforce and the corporate quality and safety committee.
Dr. Kelley is a practicing primary care physician and continues to see patients in his Longwood office.
About Orlando Health
Orlando Health is a $2.1 billion not-for-profit health care organization and a community-based network of physician practices, hospitals, and outpatient care centers throughout Central Florida. The organization is home to the area’s only Level One Trauma Centers for adults and pediatrics and is a statutory teaching hospital system that offers both specialty and community hospitals.
Nearly 2,000 physicians have privileges at Orlando Health, which is also one of the area’s largest employers with more than 15,000 employees who serve nearly 2 million Central Florida residents and more than 4,500 international patients annually. Additionally, Orlando Health provides more than $270 million in support of community health needs. More information can be found at www.orlandohealth.com.
