Role Reflects Commitment of Clinical Excellence Across the Continuum of Care
West Orange, NJ, June 4, 2024 — RWJBarnabas Health, the largest, most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, has appointed Amy Cotton, DNP, APRN, CPHQ, FAAN as Senior Vice President, Quality and Safety. In this role, Dr. Cotton will be responsible for the oversight of the quality and safety programs for RWJBarnabas Health including development, strategy and execution of patient safety and quality initiatives that support the mission and vision of RWJBarnabas Health.
Dr. Cotton will also serve as a key member of the Safety Together team, the system’s high-reliability organization initiative, with the goal of securing and sustaining top-tier clinical outcomes and delivering the highest quality care and safest experience for the system’s patients and workforce.
Reporting to Dr. Andy Anderson, RWJBarnabas Health Executive Vice President and Chief Medical and Quality Officer, Dr. Cotton will work collaboratively with system leadership to execute strategic objectives including implementing performance improvement programs and standardizing best practices to enhance the quality of care, including in all acute care and outpatient system facilities.
“RWJBarnabas Health is committed to continuous quality improvement efforts so that our patients receive the best outcomes across the continuum of care,” said Dr. Anderson. “Amy has extensive experience and knowledge of quality improvement strategies and her background makes her exceptionally poised to advance our quality performance for the health and safety of all patients, which remains our number one priority,” he continued.
A skilled executive leader, Dr. Cotton has a proven track record of success, most recently serving as Senior Vice President, Quality and Safety at Allegheny Health Network, a 14-hospital system based out of Pittsburgh. While at Allegheny Health Network, Dr. Cotton was responsible for strategy and execution of highly reliable performance and operational support in clinical quality, patient safety, regulatory/accreditation standards, infection prevention and clinical data/analytics.
Prior to her role at Allegheny Health Network, Dr. Cotton served as Division Vice President, Care Experience, HCA Healthcare, South Atlantic Division where, beginning in 2018, she achieved year over year improved overall patient experience ratings of healthcare delivery services and developed a market-based regional structure to drive improvement. Previous to HCA Healthcare, South Atlantic Division, Dr. Cotton served as System Vice President, Patient Engagement and Chief Experience Officer, Northern Light Health (Formerly Eastern Maine Healthcare) and as System Director Quality & Operations, Continuum of Care for the company.
Dr. Cotton graduated from University of Southern Maine with a Master of Nursing and received her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions. She is a LEAN Six Sigma Black Belt, currently serves on the American Academy of Nursing Acute Care Quality Expert Panel and has previously served on boards for a number of medical institutions and associations. Dr. Cotton has received numerous nurse-related accolades including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Executive Nurse Fellow.
About RWJBarnabas Health
RWJBarnabas Health is the largest, most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, with a service area covering eight counties with five million people. The system includes twelve acute care hospitals – Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton in Hamilton, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway in Rahway and Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, three acute care children’s hospitals, Children’s Specialized Hospital with a network of outpatient pediatric rehabilitation centers, a freestanding 100-bed behavioral health center, two trauma centers, a satellite emergency department, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state’s largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy services, affiliated medical groups, multi-site imaging centers and two accountable care organizations.
RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers – with more than 41,000 employees and 9,000 physicians– and routinely captures national awards for outstanding quality and safety. RWJBarnabas Health launched an affiliation with Rutgers University to create New Jersey’s largest academic health care system. The collaboration aligns RWJBarnabas Health with Rutgers' education, research and clinical activities, including those at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.
Contact: Carrie Cristello
Carrie.Cristello@rwjbh.org