White Plains, N.Y., January 21, 2026 – White Plains Hospital has received the Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Prevention of RSI award by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), the leading professional organization for surgical nurses nationwide. This prestigious award recognizes White Plains Hospital’s unwavering commitment to minimizing the risk of surgical errors and enhancing patient safety through advanced education and training of its surgical team in preventing unintentionally retained surgical items (RSI).
RSIs, which include any surgical sponge, instrument, tool, or device unintentionally left in a patient after surgery, have long been identified by The Joint Commission as the most common sentinel event in surgical and invasive procedures.
“Being named an AORN Center of Excellence reflects our relentless focus on patient safety,” said Dr. Michael Palumbo, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at White Plains Hospital. “It recognizes the excellence of our surgical team and reaffirms our mission to provide world-class care to every patient we serve.”
The Center of Excellence designation signifies that White Plains Hospital has successfully completed AORN’s comprehensive, evidence-based program, adopting and implementing best practices to ensure the continued safe care of surgical patients.
To achieve this recognition, the Hospital underwent a rigorous process, demonstrating its commitment to RSI prevention through several key initiatives. Those included a comprehensive review and enhancement of existing surgical safety protocols, the implementation of adjunct technology and standardized procedures for instrument and sponge counting, and advanced training for all surgical team members on best practices for preventing RSIs.
The program also emphasized fostering a culture of open communication and collaboration within the OR to ensure that all team members are empowered to speak up if they have any concerns about patient safety. Earning this Center of Excellence designation demonstrates White Plains Hospital’s dedication to providing the highest level of safety for patients undergoing surgical procedures, while also creating a safer and more supportive environment for its surgical staff.
White Plains Hospital is frequently recognized for its dedication to patient safety. In 2025, it became the only hospital in Westchester and Fairfield counties, as well as in the Hudson Valley, to earn a five-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)—based upon several assessments, including safety and quality of care—for the fourth consecutive year.
The Hospital has also received an “A” Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group for the past 14 consecutive grading periods; has won the Patient Safety Excellence Award™ from Healthgrades; and has been named a Top Hospital by numerous publications, including Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, and Money.
A complete list of White Plains Hospital’s awards and accreditations can be found here.
About White Plains Hospital
White Plains Hospital is a proud member of the Montefiore Health System, serving as its tertiary hub of advanced care in the Hudson Valley. The Hospital is a 292-bed not-for-profit healthcare organization with the primary mission of providing exceptional acute and preventive medical care to all people who live in, work in or visit Westchester County and its surrounding areas. White Plains Hospital has outpatient medical facilities across Westchester, including multispecialty practices in Armonk, Hawthorne, Larchmont, New Rochelle, Rye Brook, Somers, Yonkers and Yorktown Heights; and Scarsdale Medical Group locations in Harrison and Scarsdale.
The Hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and in 2025, it received another 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)—the highest distinction offered by that federal agency—for the fourth consecutive year. In addition, the Hospital received its third Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a distinction held by only two percent of hospitals in the country. White Plains Hospital has consistently received the Outstanding Patient Experience Award from Healthgrades®, and in 2024 was awarded an “A” Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group for the 14th consecutive time.
About AORN
Founded in 1949, AORN is the leading professional organization for perioperative nurses, supporting the practice of more than 200,000 perioperative nurses by providing evidence-based research, nursing education, standards and practice resources to enable optimal outcomes for patients undergoing operative and other invasive procedures. AORN unites and empowers perioperative nurses, healthcare organizations, and industry partners to support safe surgery for every patient, every time. For more information about AORN and its initiatives, visit www.aorn.org.