Clinical Excellence Award: Celebrating Jason Goldwasser, DO
As part of our ongoing celebration of the 2024 Clinical Excellence Award, we are pleased to introduce recipient Jason Goldwasser, DO. Dr. Goldwasser was selected by our National Clinical Governance Board (NCGB) for his accomplishments as an Emergency Physician and Quality Director at Jefferson Hospital. He is with us today to explore his career at USACS. Accompanying him is peer-nominator for the award, Jason Wong, MD, Associate Medical Director at Jefferson Hospital.
To open the discussion, Dr. Goldwasser recounts how his interest in medicine first began. “Growing up, I was inspired by family friends in healthcare and my brother who is a Primary Care Physician,” he explains. “In listening to their stories, I started to understand the significance of helping communities in their times of need. My curiosity led me to volunteer at hospitals in high school. I went on to complete medical school and my emergency medicine residency at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM). Come 2020, I joined USACS and haven’t looked back since.”
Throughout his tenure, Dr. Goldwasser has set the gold standard. With Jefferson’s emergency department (ED) seeing 54,000 patients annually, he is applauded for his efficacy in handling volume surges. A testament to his skill, he consistently achieves top percentile productivity and throughput numbers. Notably, Dr. Goldwasser excels at delivering these results without sacrificing personalized care. Despite the fast-paced nature of the ED, he demonstrates an attentive bedside manner that cultivates trust and comfort with his patients.
Having worked with each other closely, Dr. Wong echoes these sentiments. “I have had many impressive colleagues in my 17 years as a Physician—yet Dr. Goldwasser stands out,” he asserts. “It is on high-volume days that his contributions really shine. During a recent surge, we had a lot of patients at our facility. Dr. Goldwasser was overseeing triage and expertly led the team to compassionately manage patient flow. Across his 10-hour shift, he dispositioned over 60 patients. Remarkably, this is not a one-off situation for Dr. Goldwasser. He is a steady role model with a clear Servant’s Heart.”
Beyond his individual impact, Dr. Goldwasser drives department-wide improvements. As Quality Director, he emphasizes efficiency and safety in the ED. He monitors a breadth of clinical criteria related to USACS’ priorities and engages in monthly meetings to evaluate challenges. This knowledge is then translated into action. For instance, he has focused heavily on strengthening Jefferson’s stroke program. The program now leads Allegheny Health Network (AHN) in stroke quality and in door-to-tPA times under 30 minutes. Jefferson has received one of the American Heart Association’s most esteemed awards, Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus.
As Dr. Goldwasser notes, these outcomes rely on a collective effort. “Physicians, APPs, nurses, and USACS are integral to our progress,” he affirms. “Our stroke program is a key example of our unified commitment to speed and precision. Together, we built a protocol for acute ischemic strokes. The goal is to get symptomatic patients in the door and to CT right away. This allows us to administer tPA quickly after onset. Secondly, we implemented USACS’ dizziNIHSS clinical management tool (CMT) for diagnosis of posterior strokes. This CMT is pertinent for patients with atypical symptoms and is one of many used to apply evidence-based practices.”
Importantly, Dr. Goldwasser’s devotion extends to his collegial relationships as well. He goes the extra mile to show up when needed and strives to form meaningful connections with his peers. He understands that our wins are only as valuable as those we share them with. With this mindset, it is no surprise Dr. Goldwasser received the Friend of Nursing Award last year. Chosen by Jefferson’s nursing leadership, the award commends his supportive, cross-functional approach. His limitless dedication ultimately fosters a positive culture in his department.
In this regard, Dr. Goldwasser’s character is best described by Dr. Wong. “On a daily basis, Dr. Goldwasser embodies the spirit of teamwork,” he remarks. “It is not uncommon for him to come in voluntarily to provide coverage—such as the time he covered an unexpected overnight shift vacancy. He stayed after finishing a full evening shift, spending 16 consecutive hours in a demanding environment. Equally telling, Dr. Goldwasser is well liked by his fellow Clinicians. From his selflessness to his expertise, he is a joy to be around and an honor to collaborate with.”
When it comes to the future, Dr. Goldwasser knows that there is always more to learn and more to do. Whether treating patients at the bedside or advancing quality measures, he is motivated to rise to the occasion. He looks forward to developing additional initiatives at Jefferson and seeing how they may be used as a framework for other sites. If one thing is certain, Dr. Goldwasser will continue to grow, as both a Physician and a leader, and remain a critical part of our patients’ journey to optimal health.
Reflecting on the recognition he has earned, Dr. Goldwasser offers his concluding thoughts. “I would like to thank Dr. Wong and the NCGB for presenting me with the Clinical Excellence Award,” he expresses. “It is a privilege to be acknowledged on a national level alongside such talented healthcare professionals. USACS truly values its people, and I am proud to be at a practice grounded in Physician empowerment.”