Jeffrey Flaks, president and CEO of Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare, has received the Steven Schroeder Award for Outstanding Healthcare CEO.
The award, presented at The Leapfrog Group’s annual meeting, honors health system executives who demonstrate ethical and courageous leadership in improving both quality and affordability in care, according to a Dec. 15 health system news release. It was established by nonprofit Costs of Care in partnership with The Leapfrog Group.
Under Mr. Flaks’ leadership, the seven-hospital system achieved high marks in patient safety, with six hospitals earning an “A” and one a “B” on Leapfrog’s hospital safety grade. Two hospitals received Leapfrog’s Top Hospital Award, and five ambulatory surgery centers earned its 2025 Top ASC Award.
The system serves more than 28,000 people daily and reported a 76% reduction in hospital-acquired infections over the past decade, as well as a 67% decline in serious safety events since 2019. Hartford HealthCare earned the American Hospital Association’s 2025 Quest for Quality Prize — the only system in the country to do so.
Affordability initiatives included more than 12,000 neighborhood health visits since 2021 and a shift toward lower-cost sites of care, with more than 43% of surgeries occurring in ambulatory settings, reducing costs by an average of 26%. The system also ranks in the top 20% nationally for price transparency.
Mr. Flaks is the eighth recipient of the annual award. He has led Hartford HealthCare since 2019.
