Dr. Rex G. Mathew of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, was named Emergency Department Director of the Year by the Emergency Medicine Foundation and Blue Jay Consulting.

This new annual award recognizes current emergency department physician leaders who made significant impacts on improving the operations of their departments, resulting in improvements in the quality of patient care.

The award winner and finalists were chosen from nearly 80 nominations from across the United States and overseas by a selection panel composed of appointees from Blue Jay Consulting and the Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF).

This year’s winner, Dr. Mathew, is vice president of emergency medicine clinical operations at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, a level I trauma center in Philadelphia. Dr. Mathew displayed his leadership abilities, combined with his clinical knowledge, to work with leaders throughout the hospital to improve care in the emergency department.

He fulfills a unique role for the department and the hospital as both an administrator and a practicing physician. Having his “feet in both doors” has enabled him to make a positive impact on his patients and fellow clinicians. In addition, Dr. Mathew was instrumental in developing many quality improvement projects, including the newly accredited Thomas Jefferson Chest Pain Center.

The finalists were Dr. Patrick J. Crocker, chief of emergency medicine at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas in Austin; Dr. William Dalsey, chairman of the department of emergency medicine at Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood, N.J.; and Dr. Paul Ernest Pepe, chief of emergency services at Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas.

The winner and finalists demonstrated significant contributions to their emergency department in the following categories: quality patient care, operational effectiveness, education, and community service. They demonstrated collaborative relationships with nursing and ancillary departments to implement and improve operational and clinical standards based on evidence-based practice.

They also stood out for their abilities to create and sustain high degrees of patient satisfaction, while implementing creative and innovative strategies to address emergency department throughput.

Dr. Mathew and the finalists “labored tirelessly to improve processes, demonstrated a superior level of expertise, and worked with their team to enhance patient care,” said Mark J. Feinberg, managing partner, Blue Jay Consulting. “We look forward to seeing these doctors fulfill their limitless potentials as they continue to provide patients and the hospitals they serve with the utmost efficiency, clinical standards, education, and community service.”