Captured Caring: Inspiring moments for February 2026

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Mount Sinai Hospital achieved the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) Meritorious Status for surgical patient outcomes in 2024, with results reported in 2025, placing us among the top-performing hospitals internationally. We were recognized in both the “All Cases” and “High Risk” categories, and ranked within the top seven per cent of 609 participating hospitals worldwide for exceptional postoperative outcomes.

In addition, the surgery team was recently recognized at the January 2026 Ontario Surgical Quality Improvement Network (ONSQIN) meeting with the Greatest Improvement in Surgical Outcomes SQIPPY Award, reflecting a 77 per cent reduction in postoperative urinary tract infection rates. These achievements build on our distinctions in 2021 and 2022 and reflect the extraordinary dedication of our surgery team. Congratulations to all on this amazing achievement!

Submitted by: Melanie Lipka, Lead NSQIP and Clinical Insights, Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital 

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The Sinai Health Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) formed an Interdisciplinary Feeding Focus Group to help infants start breastfeeding and bottle feeding earlier and to increase opportunities for non-nutritive sucking at the breast. Through strong teamwork and active parent engagement, the group developed and implemented an evidence-based, standardized guideline for oral feeding on non-invasive ventilation. Since November 2025, the NICU has successfully introduced non-nutritive sucking for infants on CPAP and reduced the time to first breastfeeding or bottle feeding by more than 50 per cent, supporting earlier, developmentally appropriate caregiver involvement.

Submitted by: Heather Steciuk, Occupational Therapist, NICU, Mount Sinai Hospital