The consultants had done their analysis and made their recommendation: To provide the best care for patients, Cooper University Health Care should focus on more compassion.

It was 2014. Anthony Mazzarelli, then the chief medical officer, wondered how he’d sell the idea to the staff. He expected eye rolls at what some might consider “mushy stuff.” He decided he needed data. So he enlisted the help of the physician with the reputation of “the science guy” — a.k.a. Stephen Trzeciak, an intensive care specialist at Cooper.