UK HealthCare’s EmPATH awarded top operational honor by America’s Essential Hospitals
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 15, 2026) — America’s Essential Hospitals has recognized UK HealthCare for its Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Health (EmPATH) program.
The association presented UK HealthCare with the 2026 Gage Award for operational excellence at a June 11 luncheon at VITAL2026 in Minneapolis.
EmPATH — the first program of its kind in Kentucky — is a psychiatric emergency observation unit open 24/7 and designed to replace emergency department boarding for people experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The program, which does not require appointments, is specially equipped to quickly treat adult patients experiencing mental illness and substance use crises. In EmPATH’s first year, inpatient psychiatric admissions declined by 63.5%, 30-day readmissions to the state psychiatric hospital decreased by 13%, and emergency department boarding time dropped by 92.1%.
“We are honored to receive this award,” said Lindsey Jasinski, Ph.D., chief administrative officer of Eastern State Hospital. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our EmPATH team and the importance of expanding innovative psychiatric emergency care. The most important thing we do every day is provide hope. Many people come to us on their worst day, and we strive to start the healing process through connection. This award reinforces our commitment to improving access to compassionate, patient-centered mental health services for our communities.”
America’s Essential Hospitals represents more than 400 hospitals dedicated to high-quality care for all, including those who face social and financial barriers to care. The Gage Awards, named after association founder Larry Gage, honor and share successful, creative member hospital programs that improve patient care and meet community needs. The Gage Award for operational excellence honors programs that transform operations to improve efficiency, workforce engagement and service delivery.
“Our essential hospitals continuously innovate to build health care for the future and meet the needs of their communities,” said Jennifer DeCubellis, M.A., president and CEO of America’s Essential Hospitals. “The Gage Awards not only honor these mission commitments and problem-solving efforts, but also help us spread what works so all communities benefit.”
UK HealthCare is the hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky. But it is so much more. It is more than 10,000 dedicated healthcare professionals committed to providing advanced subspecialty care for the most critically injured and ill patients from the Commonwealth and beyond. It also is the home of the state’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that cares for the tiniest and sickest newborns and the region’s only Level 1 trauma center.
As an academic research institution, we are continuously pursuing the next generation of cures, treatments, protocols and policies. Our discoveries have the potential to change what’s medically possible within our lifetimes. Our educators and thought leaders are transforming the healthcare landscape as our six health professions colleges teach the next generation of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, spreading the highest standards of care. UK HealthCare is the power of advanced medicine committed to creating a healthier Kentucky, now and for generations to come.