Greetings, UCR Health Team,

As UCR Health continues to grow, one of our most important priorities is ensuring that growth translates into a better experience for our patients.

For too many people throughout Inland Southern California, accessing healthcare can still mean long waits for appointments, complicated scheduling processes, or traveling outside their communities to receive the care they need. As the UC health system serving this region, we have both an opportunity and a responsibility to help change that.

Our focus this month is clear: Same-week appointments.

At UCR Health, our goal is straightforward: whenever clinically appropriate, patients should be offered an appointment within 10 days of contacting us.

Achieving that goal requires more than simply adding appointments. It means looking closely at the entire patient experience and finding new ways to make connecting with UCR Health simpler, faster, and more convenient.

One important part of that work is expanding online appointment scheduling, giving patients greater flexibility in how and when they connect with our physicians. We are also continuing to strengthen our patient access processes and digital capabilities so patients can more easily navigate their care.

These improvements are part of a larger commitment to creating a healthcare experience that is responsive to the needs of the communities we serve.

Technology alone is not the answer. What matters is how we use it to remove barriers, improve communication, and help patients receive the right care at the right time. Combined with the dedication of our clinical and administrative teams, these efforts are moving us closer to a more connected and patient-centered health system.

There is still work ahead, but every improvement brings us closer to the kind of organization we are building—one known not only for outstanding academic medicine, but also for exceptional access and service.

Thank you to everyone across UCR Health who is helping make that possible.

With gratitude,