The New England Association for Healthcare Quality, Inc – NEAHQ – empowers healthcare quality professionals from every specialty throughout New England by providing education, networking, certification preparation and professional practice resources.
NEAHQ provides a strong voice for healthcare quality by active involvement in appropriate healthcare quality initiatives.
NEAHQ Position Statement on Racism and Equity
The New England Association for Healthcare Quality (NEAHQ) is united against racism and injustice. Issues of race and inequity are tightly intertwined and regularly manifest in individual and community health, access to healthcare, delivery of healthcare, social determinants of health, and in employment in the healthcare sector. As we confront the COVID-19 pandemic, disparities in these areas have become even more apparent and pronounced.
NEAHQ has an important role to play in improving equity and confronting racism in healthcare. NEAHQ is New England's organization for healthcare quality professionals. Our purpose is to promote the delivery of quality healthcare; provide leadership and expertise in the delivery of quality care; promote professional ethics; facilitate communication, cooperation and education among and for healthcare quality professionals; and support and actively advocate for patients to receive quality healthcare.
Consistent with our purpose and rising to the needs of this time, NEAHQ is committed to creating programming that will educate and address issues to make sure care is equitable and accessible, to educating about social determinants of health and reducing negative impacts, to ensuring our membership is diverse and inclusive, and that opportunities for development and advancement are available to members, inclusive of those of marginalized communities and communities of color.
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NEAHQ Announces Professional Enhancement Grant
The mission of the New England Association for Healthcare Quality (NEAHQ) is to empower healthcare professionals throughout New England by providing education, networking, certification preparation and professional practice resources. To support this mission and further promote the professional development of our members, the NEAHQ Board of Directors is pleased to announce a call for applications for the 2020 Professional Enhancement Grant. The grant provides financial assistance to NEAHQ members to obtain the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) credential or for a current CPHQ to attend an educational conference. There will a $1200 Professional Enhancement Grant awarded. Monies awarded for educational conferences are to be used toward travel and registration expenses not reimbursed by an employer. NEAHQ members in good standing are eligible to apply. The grant will be awarded based on the applicant’s compliance with eligibility criteria as well as the quality and comprehensiveness of responses on the application, which can be found here: https://www.neahq.org/documents/neahq_grant-applicationdocx. NEAHQ will be accepting applications through October 10, 2020 and the grant will be awarded during Healthcare Quality Week, October 2020. We look forward to your applications! -
Summer Newsletter 2020
President's Message Treasurer's Report Position Statement on Racism and Equity Board Member Spotlight Join NEAHQ PI Corner NEAHQ Announces Professional Enhancement Grant News from the Net Program Committee Update President's Message The summer months are finally upon us, but this year’s start feels different than any that I can remember. Most of us spent a significant amount of time this winter and spring at home without much of a choice, worrying about our loved ones, our country's health and economic crisis, and the state of the world. Our hospitals had to make tough decisions to keep doors open while caring for the surge of patients without enough protective and medical equipment, and our skilled nursing facilities were devastatingly overwhelmed while trying to protect our most vulnerable population. Provider offices had to stand up telehealth platforms at the speed of light in order to continue safely meet the needs of their patients. Many of us personally witnessed the loss of family members, friends, and/or patients to the unimaginable COVID-19. We had to learn new ways to socialize and communicate using technology and get creative to accomplish what we didn’t even realize we took for granted every day. Travel plans, graduations, sports, and social events were postponed or cancelled altogether. We watched and waited for brighter days, but instead, darker days persist. Most recently, we’ve witnessed on camera the horrendous, unwarranted death of George Floyd, an unarmed black American while in police custody. This horrific event cast a spotlight on the case of Breonna Taylor who was killed in her own home by police in March; and we are now reminded of many seemingly parallel recent incidents. When people came together to demand justice, terrifying violence stole the streets creating chaos, fear, and sadness. While racial inequity is not a new tragedy impacting our country, the recent events have had a profound impact, opening the floodgates for long overdue dialogue and immediate calls for action. It is imperative that individuals, government leadership, and organizations come together to do what is necessary to advance equality, inclusivity, and positive change in our communities and workplaces. NEAHQ will work to promote discussion and education to support actions around disparities in healthcare. Please reach out to let us know how we can better serve you as we strive to be part of this incredibly important time in history, and additionally as we continue to navigate healthcare in a post-COVID-19 environment. On a final note, I wish you all a happy summer, and look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you for believing in this organization. It is so important that you are part of decisions that are made in our present and future. Namaste! NEAHQ Position Statement on Racism and Equity The New England Association for Healthcare Quality (NEAHQ) is united against racism and injustice. Issues of race and inequity are tightly intertwined and regularly manifest in individual and community health, access to healthcare, delivery of healthcare, social determinants of health, and in employment in the healthcare sector. As we confront the COVID-19 pandemic, disparities in these areas have become even more apparent and pronounced. NEAHQ has an important role to play in improving equity and confronting racism in healthcare. NEAHQ is New England's organization for healthcare quality professionals. Our purpose is to promote the delivery of quality healthcare; provide leadership and expertise in the delivery of quality care; promote professional ethics; facilitate communication, cooperation and education among and for healthcare quality professionals; and support and actively advocate for patients to receive quality healthcare. Consistent with our purpose and rising to the needs of this time, NEAHQ is committed to creating programming that will educate and address issues to make sure care is equitable and accessible, to educating about social determinants of health and reducing negative impacts, to ensuring our membership is diverse and inclusive, and that opportunities for development and advancement are available to members, inclusive of those of marginalized communities and communities of color. Join NEAHQ Now! The New England Association of Healthcare Quality (NEAHQ) invites you to become a member of our organization that represents healthcare quality professionals across New England. NEAHQ membership offers many benefits: Educational programs (in-person and virtual) including an Annual Conference and Webinars offering continuing education and CPHQ credits at reduced rates Networking Events to meet peers and exchange ideas Social Networking through LinkedIn Healthcare Quality Job Board E-Newsletter covering important trends in healthcare quality and NEAHQ news CPHQ Review Course Member Forums Archived Events Opportunities for volunteerism and committee participation NEAHQ Membership annual dues are $75. To join, go to the NEAHQ website at https://www.neahq.org/join and complete the form online or download it and mail it in with your payment. NEAHQ Announces Professional Enhancement Grant The mission of the New England Association for Healthcare Quality (NEAHQ) is to empower healthcare professionals throughout New England by providing education, networking, certification preparation and professional practice resources. To support this mission and further promote the professional development of our members, the NEAHQ Board of Directors is pleased to announce a call for applications for the 2020 Professional Enhancement Grant. The grant provides $1200 financial assistance to NEAHQ members to obtain the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) credential or for a current CPHQ to attend an educational conference. NEAHQ members in good standing are eligible to apply. The grant will be awarded based on the applicant’s compliance with eligibility criteria as well as the quality and comprehensiveness of responses on the application, which can be found at www.neahq.org. NEAHQ will be accepting applications through October 10, 2020 and the grant will be awarded during Healthcare Quality Week in October. We look forward to your applications! Program Committee Update It’s summer time and New England is gradually re-opening for activities! We hope that you continue to stay safe and well as we collectively acclimate to this new normal. In May, the NEAHQ Board made the difficult decision to postpone our Spring Webinar Series – Population Health Management: Importance of Data Analytics and Clinical Integration. The Board perspective was that the timing was simply too difficult. Members are being pulled into COVID-related projects and may be experiencing virtual burnout from working at home. Thank you for your patience as we determine the best way to meet your educational needs considering these current challenges. The Program Committee is now focused on creating programming that will address issues of structural racism and inequity in healthcare systems. We are in the planning stages for a virtual event to be announced this summer, and we will be exploring creative virtual learning strategies and solutions to move beyond traditional webinar format. Finally, the Program Committee will be releasing a member engagement survey next month because we want to hear from you! What hot topics are you interested in learning about at future educational programs? What format do you prefer for virtual programming? We hope you will participate and share your feedback so that we can tailor future programming to your needs. Lauren Hartwell & Aliysa Rajwani NEAHQ Program Committee Co-Chairs Treasurer’s Report NEAHQ currently has $45,416.05 in total assets. Total revenue generated 2020 YTD is $6,200.58. Revenue was generated from webinar fees, program fees, membership dues, and bank account interest. Total expenditures for 2020 YTD are $9,729.43. Expenditures were related to administrative and operating expenses, as well as program refunds. Net revenue for 2020 YTD is -$3,528.85. While we are operating at a loss, NEAHQ has enough assets to carry us through this difficult time. The Finance Committee is looking forward to collaborating with the Program and Membership Committees on ways to increase revenue. For complete details, please reach out to treasurer@neahq.org Board Member Spotlight -- Sandra Van Gundy Would you please share a brief overview of your career? I started my career at the bedside 30 years ago. Although I worked in a variety of settings, my primary area of expertise was critical and emergency care. Over the years I moved from acute care nursing to academia, always maintaining a clinical faculty position in order to continue the hands on care and close connection with patients. My attraction to systems thinking and process improvement paved my way as an early adopter in the Patient Safety movement. My passion for holistic care was a natural precursor to embrace improving the patient experience. After 15 years teaching, I returned to my hospital roots as a Director of Quality and Population Health. I am now very much “in my lane” so to speak. Which aspect of your current position is especially rewarding? When I see the obvious positive outcomes that come from empowerment. From bedside to boardroom- patient, staff, management; really does make a difference in performance improvement. Has anyone individual greatly influenced your career? I have been blessed with many mentors, amazing colleagues, and the support of family and friends. But, I would have to say my mother pushing me to go to university to get a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1986 was a major foundational influence. What led to your involvement with NEAHQ? In every professional endeavor I have made it a priority to serve the community of interest which is putting forth efforts to advance the related aspect of the profession. My interest in serving NEAHQ are with this commitment in mind. I believe in the vision of Zero Harm and know we can do better in serving our patients. I believe in collaborative efforts of a group of likeminded individuals with a common goal can be the catalyst for needed change. The question then is, why NOT join them? What are your goals as a NEAHQ Board Member? It is an exciting time for healthcare quality as the body of evidence is expanding and we strive to put the patient at the center of the system of care. As a holistic nurse, I am committed to advocating for the patient and for a system that holds the compassionate human connection piece as paramount; while striving to reduce preventable harm through the application of evidence based practice. As a board member I hope to bring forth these tenets through the sharing of knowledge whereby strengthening NEAHQ as a professional learning community and ultimately influencing decision-making regarding health policy. How do you balance your demanding professional life with your personal life? I am blessed with a strong spiritual practice which includes yoga and meditation. I enjoy quality time with loving family and friends, and a deep appreciation for time spent in nature. PI Corner -- Cause and Effect Diagram A Cause and Effect Diagram is a visual tool for displaying a list of possible causes associated with a specific effect. It is also known as a fishbone diagram or an Ishikawa diagram. The tool organizes potential causes into categories. The problem or effect is displayed at the head or mouth of the fish. Possible contributing causes are listed on the smaller “bones” under various cause categories. News from the Net The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has published Making Healthcare Safer III: A Critical Analysis of Existing and Emerging Patient Safety Practices. The report covers 47 patient safety practices (PSPs) in 17 specific harm areas. The PSPs were chosen for inclusion in the report based on the high-impact harms they address and interest in the status of their appropriateness for use. Free full text is available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555526/ -
NEAHQ Position Statement on Racism and Equity
The New England Association for Healthcare Quality (NEAHQ) is united against racism and injustice. Issues of race and inequity are tightly intertwined and regularly manifest in individual and community health, access to healthcare, delivery of healthcare, social determinants of health, and in employment in the healthcare sector. As we confront the COVID-19 pandemic, disparities in these areas have become even more apparent and pronounced. NEAHQ has an important role to play in improving equity and confronting racism in healthcare. NEAHQ is New England's organization for healthcare quality professionals. Our purpose is to promote the delivery of quality healthcare; provide leadership and expertise in the delivery of quality care; promote professional ethics; facilitate communication, cooperation and education among and for healthcare quality professionals; and support and actively advocate for patients to receive quality healthcare. Consistent with our purpose and rising to the needs of this time, NEAHQ is committed to creating programming that will educate and address issues to make sure care is equitable and accessible, to educating about social determinants of health and reducing negative impacts, to ensuring our membership is diverse and inclusive, and that opportunities for development and advancement are available to members, inclusive of those of marginalized communities and communities of color. -
NEAHQ Newsletter - Winter 2020
President's Message Join NEAHQ Now! Program Committee Update PI Corner Committee Member Spotlight Call for NEAHQ Director Nominations News from the Net Get in touch President's Message Hello and Happy New Year! I hope you have all had a chance to relax and spend some quality time with your families during the holiday season. Our program committee has been busy planning many exciting events for our members. We recently had a networking event at BU School of Public Health aimed at recent graduates and current Public Health students. The quality presentation and panel discussion were well attended and generated a lot of interesting discussion. Looking for CPHQ credits? If so, please sign up for one or all of our webinars scheduled for January and February. Registration and sign-up can be completed on our website at https://www.neahq.org/cpages/home Lastly, please save the date for our annual meeting on Friday, April 3, 2020. Please look out for details on how to sign up for the annual meeting and renewing your membership. This is an exciting time to be part of NEAHQ and I encourage you all to invite your colleagues to join us regardless of where they live or work. With the New Year, we are beginning the process of selecting the board slate for 2020-2021. If you are interested in volunteering or being part of the board, please fill out the application you will be receiving in your inbox. As we explore ways to expand and grow our organization, we want to hear from you! If you have any suggestions for us, please send a quick email at admin@neahq.org Best Wishes, Taruna Banerjee President, NEAHQ Join NEAHQ Now! The New England Association of Healthcare Quality (NEAHQ) invites you to become a member of our organization that represents healthcare quality professionals across New England. NEAHQ membership offers many benefits: Educational programs (in-person and virtual) including an Annual Conference and Webinars offering continuing education and CPHQ credits at reduced rates Networking Events to meet peers and exchange ideas Social Networking through LinkedIn Healthcare Quality Job Board E-Newsletter covering important trends in healthcare quality and NEAHQ news CPHQ Review Course Member Forums Archived Events Opportunities for volunteerism and committee participation NEAHQ Membership annual dues are $75. To join, go to the NEAHQ website at https://www.neahq.org/join and complete the form online or download it and mail it in with your payment. Program Committee Update It has been a busy couple of months for the NEAHQ Program Committee! On October 24th, NEAHQ celebrated Healthcare Quality Week with our annual night of networking. This year’s event was held at the Public Health Museum in Tewksbury, MA. In addition to networking and refreshments, participants enjoyed a panel discussion about social determinants of health and healthcare quality, followed by a personalized, interactive museum tour. Panelists included Diana Erani, Vice President of Health Informatics at the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Kristin Mikolowsky, Associate Director of Research and Evaluation at Health Resources in Action, and Ben Wood, Director of the Division of Community Health Planning and Engagement at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. It was a fun and informative evening, and the unique venue was appreciated by all. In December, the NEAHQ Program Committee hosted a ‘Careers in Healthcare Quality’ event at the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH). NEAHQ Board member, Haley Friedler, worked with Career Services and the Students for Quality Health Care at BUSPH to plan an evening of networking with current healthcare quality professionals and graduate students interested in entering the field! The event included a brief introduction to QI by Program Committee co-chair, Lauren Hartwell, and a panel of NEAHQ members discussing their careers in healthcare quality. Panelists included Alyson Mitchell, Quality Transformation Consultant at UnitedHealth Group, Lynn Myers, Quality Project Leader at Tufts Medical Center, Gloria Stone Plottel, Founder and CEO of GSPsquared LLC, and Lauren Hartwell, Project Manager in Population Health at Tufts Health Plan. Many students took the opportunity to network with NEAHQ members during the event and we look forward to continuing our budding collaboration with the Students for Quality Health Care at BUSPH. The Program Committee is now advertising for the annual NEAHQ Winter Webinar series! NEAHQ will host a series of four professional development webinars between January and March 2020. Please see a list of webinar topics and dates below. All webinars are hosted virtually between the hours of 12-1 PM EST. Register to participate in the Winter Webinar series at https://www.neahq.org/events. Tuesday, January 21, 2020 – Listening Isn’t Easy Wednesday, February 5, 2020 – Influencing Without Authority Thursday, February 20, 2020 – A Patient’s Perspective on Quality Customer Care Friday, March 20, 2020 – QI Tools: Run Charts and Control Charts Finally, save the date for the NEAHQ Annual Meeting on Friday, April 3, 2020. This all-day event will be held at the new Massachusetts Department of Public Health office space and conference venue in Marlborough, MA. The NEAHQ Board has agreed on the theme of Population Health Management, with a focus on data analytics and clinical integration. The Program Committee is actively recruiting speakers for the event, and we look forward to putting together a thoughtful and engaging program! RSVP for the event at this link: https://www.neahq.org/events/neahq-annual-meeting-save-the-date. Back to Top of Newsletter PI Corner A flowchart is a type of diagram that represents a workflow or process. A flowchart can also be defined as a diagrammatic representation of an algorithm, a step-by-step approach to solving a task. The flowchart shows the steps as boxes of various kinds, and their order by connecting the boxes with arrows. Using a flowchart has a variety of benefits: It helps to clarify complex processes. It identifies steps that do not add value to the internal or external customer, including: delays; needless storage and transportation; unnecessary work, duplication, and added expense; breakdowns in communication. It helps team members gain a shared understanding of the process and use this knowledge to collect data, identify problems, focus discussions, and identify resources. It serves as a basis for designing new processes Back to Top of Newsletter Committee Member Spotlight Absa Fall, QI & Outcomes Manager, St. Anne's Hospital Would you please share a brief overview of your career? I was very fortunate to enter the healthcare industry. As a Business Management graduate, Healthcare was not on my radar. After completing grad school, I accepted a position as a Management Analyst at the Department of Public Health. In this role I supported different areas under Quality Management including Risk Management, Infection Control, Case Management, and Performance Improvement. From there, I grew to become a Transformation Initiatives Project Manager overseeing a variety of PI projects under a state- and CMS-funded performance-based incentive payment program that advances the triple aim. I am currently a Quality Improvement & Outcomes Manager overseeing improvement projects and also coordinating regulatory activities for a community hospital on the South Shore. This experience and involvement in healthcare motivated me to become CPHQ certified recently. Which aspect of your current position is especially rewarding? The most rewarding part of my work is seeing the effect that process changes can have in the performance of staff which in turn translates to better care for patients. Sometimes, these changes may seem bothersome to staff at first, however, once things start running smoothly and the benefits become apparent, you can see staff start to appreciate the change and the work. Has any one individual greatly influenced to your career? My husband has been the biggest influence in my career. A healthcare professional himself, he was the one who introduced me to the field, supported and pushed me to strive. What led to your involvement with NEAHQ? While I had been looking to join a professional association, I didn’t necessarily know which one was going to the best fit in terms of what I can contribute and what I can gain from it. Around that time, I received communication from the former MAHQ seeking applications for their Board of Directors. I was not only already a member, but this association was exactly what I was looking for. There couldn’t have been better timing. I then decided to send my application in and was approved as board member. What are your goals as a NEAHQ Board Member? My goal as an NEAHQ member is to expand our activities and programs to the South Shore area. I understand that the majority of healthcare entities are located in the northern part of the state, however, I do believe that extending to the southern area will attract and impact many quality professionals including those in Rhode Island and Connecticut. How do you balance your demanding professional life with your personal life? Having small kids can particularly make it challenging to balance professional and personal life. I am grateful to have a great support system around me. I make sure while at home, to give my family the time and attention they deserve, and give my job the same while at work. The most important thing is to keep things balanced. Interested in becoming a NEAHQ Director? The NEAHQ nominating team is seeking applications for the 2020-2021 Board of Directors ballot that will be presented to the membership for a vote in March 2020. Becoming a part of the NEAHQ leadership gives you the opportunity to help shape the future of the organization and healthcare quality. Board leaders are responsible for: Guiding the association Anticipating change in the quality environment Addressing the interests and needs of members The candidate positions available include: President-elect: The President-elect position is a three (3) year commitment, serving a year as President-Elect, a year as President and a year as Past- President. Treasurer: The Treasurer position is a two (2) years commitment. Director: Directors serve for a one-year term, meet in person several times a year, and take part in monthly conference calls. They also participate in supporting the work of the various committees. Please contact Lynn Myers at 617-636-4826 or lmyers@tuftsmedicalcenter.org to discuss the various positions or complete an application. Back to Top of Newsletter News from the Net 2018 National Healthcare Quality And Disparities Report., AHRQ., September 2019. For the 16th year in a row, AHRQ is reporting on healthcare quality and disparities. The annual National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report is mandated by Congress to provide a comprehensive overview of the quality of healthcare received by the general U.S. population and disparities in care experienced by different racial and socioeconomic groups. The National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report assesses the performance of our healthcare system and identifies areas of strengths and weaknesses, as well as disparities, for access to healthcare and quality of healthcare. Quality is described in terms of six priorities: patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, effective treatment, healthy living, and care affordability. The report tracks more than 260 healthcare process, outcome, and access measures, covering a wide variety of conditions and settings. For more information, visit https://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/nhqdr18/index.html Lab Tests Online Website. Lab Tests Online is an award-winning health information web resource designed to help patients and caregivers understand the many lab tests that are a vital part of medical care. Laboratory and medical professionals, who are experts in the field, develop and review all content, including articles on lab tests, conditions/diseases, screening, patient resources, and lab test news. The site is produced by The American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC), a global scientific and medical professional organization dedicated to clinical laboratory science and its application to healthcare. Back to Top of Newsletter Get in Touch - We Want to Hear from You! Do you have a quality event happening that you would like your fellow NEAHQ members to know about? We are interested in original content about a successful project, recent promotion and any other quality news you would like to share. Please submit articles for approval and posting to admin@neahq.org. Back to Top of Newsletter
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