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 2021 Spring Newsletter
Outgoing President’s Message Treasurer’s Report Incoming President’s Message Board Member Spotlight – Lauren Hartwell Introducing the 2021 – 2022 NEAHQ Board of Directors! Join NEAHQ Now! Program Committee PI Corner – Spaghetti Diagram Congratulations to the Winners of the Membership Drive Raffle News from the Net Outgoing President’s Message It’s been quite a ride since I accepted the honor of serving as NEAHQ’s President in the middle of a global pandemic lockdown. Yes, the road was bumpy and full of unexpected turns, and I wasn’t always sure my GPS knew the way, but I think I learned how to be a better driver through this journey. Learning new paths and going beyond the limiting boundaries of comfort zones can be truly transformational. NEAHQ had an exciting year of change by seeking new paths. We relied on the needs of members and program participants to drive 100% of our programming through survey feedback. We grew our membership despite all that was going on in the world around us by updating membership benefits and exploring creative outreach. We held 3 networking events with students at New England Universities to raise awareness about careers in Quality Improvement and build mentorship relationships. We had our first ever virtual New Year’s party. Additionally, the Board has been working diligently to refine our vision, mission, and values to provide clear strategic direction for the future of the organization. We are transforming. I’d like to thank the NEAHQ Board, committee volunteers, and our membership and program attendees for your participation, engagement, and feedback throughout this challenging year. NEAHQ would not be what it is without you all. I am excited to continue serving as Past President while I pass the baton to Haley Friedler who will become NEAHQ President. I am confident that she will lead us with dedication and innovation. Congratulations Haley! Alyson Mitchell Incoming President’s Message This past year has been trying in many ways. From improving COVID-19 protocols to managing vaccination clinics to fighting inequities in our health systems, the pandemic has required many healthcare quality professionals adapt and take on new and rapidly changing roles. We want to thank all of you for working every day, through the hardships, to continuously improve care in our communities. As I take on the role of NEAHQ President this Spring, I am humbled and honored to serve this resilient and impactful community. Although the emerging pandemic resulted in us cancelling our Annual Conference last year, we have found new ways of coming together. With a dedicated group of Board Members and Committee Volunteers, we were able to hold six webinars and a networking New Year’s party to celebrate the close of an extraordinary year. As we move further into 2021, we are hopeful for the year to come. We want to continue to find innovative ways of providing valuable programming and networking for our members and contacts, and ensure each program is developed to meet our network’s needs. We would like to build out a mentorship program for those interested or early in their careers, to provide support and guidance from the many seasoned healthcare quality professionals in our network. Lastly, we want to honor and share the incredible work we all do to improve the health of our communities. Our vision at NEAHQ is to empower healthcare quality professionals across New England to improve health. We are proud to serve as a source of community, education, and support for our members. Thank you for entrusting me to lead these efforts. I look forward to working with and for you all. Haley Friedler, MPH haleyfriedler@gmail.com Introducing the 2021 – 2022 NEAHQ Board of Directors President – Haley Friedler, MPH, Epidemiologist, OM1 Inc. Past-President – Alyson Mitchell, Quality Transformation Consultant, UnitedHealthcare President-Elect – Lauren Hartwell, MPH, Project Manager III, Population Health Management and Clinical Integration, Tufts Health Plan Treasurer – Jonathan Morely, MPH, CPPS, Emergency Management Manager, Tufts Medical Center Directors Lynn Keeley, CHES, Director of Performance Improvement, Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Kristina Kehlenbach, MPT, Manager of Quality and Patient Safety/ Patient Safety Officer, Middlesex Hospital Lynn Myers, RN, MBA, CPHQ, Quality Project Leader, Tufts Medical Center Paola Peynetti Velázquez, MPH, Senior Performance Improvement Consultant, Cambridge Health Alliance Gloria Plottel, MS, MBA, CPHQ, CPXP, Founder and CEO, GSPsquared LLC Aliysa Rajwani, BDS, MPH, Assistant Director of Performance Improvement, Tufts Medical Center Linda Shaughnessy, MBA, Director, MassHealth Quality Office Jay Spitulnik, PhD, CPT, Associate Teaching Professor, Director of Health Informatics Graduate Program, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University Sandra Van Gundy, BS, EdD, RN, CPHQ, Director of Quality & Population Health, LRGHealthcare Program Committee Greetings NEAHQ members, and Happy Spring! The Program Committee is ready for warmer weather and excited to have just finished our Winter Webinar Series. It was wonderful to see many of our members returning to programs after a year of virtual burnout in 2020. Thank you for supporting us! The Program Committee hosted three virtual programs between January and March, including: An interactive Mindfulness workshop facilitated by Alex Brunel from the Cambridge Health Alliance Center for Mindfulness and Compassion (CMC). A Regulatory Readiness panel featuring NEAHQ Board member experts from both ambulatory and inpatient settings. The panelists shared their insight and experiences and gave participants a regulatory readiness toolkit for practical application! And just this week, we hosted Jay Spitulnik, PhD to discuss Health Informatics and Healthcare Quality in the Age of COVID-19. Dr. Spitulnik presented the trends happening in health informatics as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including how they relate to healthcare quality management, and facilitated a lively question and answer session with participants. Thank you to panelists, speakers, and participants for making our Winter Webinar Series a success! Finally, the Program Committee distributed a survey earlier this month to assess member preferences for the NEAHQ annual conference, typically held in April. The majority consensus was to host the annual conference in the Fall, when we may be able to offer in-person learning experiences again. Given the exciting COVID-19 vaccination progress nationwide, we are hopeful to host an in-person conference in the Fall and hope to see you there! Thank you for your feedback and more to come soon. In the meantime, the Program Committee will start planning for a summer networking event and virtual program to meet your continuing education needs. Lauren Hartwell & Aliysa Rajwani Program Committee Co-Chairs Congratulations to the Winners of the Membership Drive Raffle! These new members won a Memory Jogger 2: Tools for Continuous Improvement and Effective Planning by joining NEAHQ before February 28, 2021! Congratulations and welcome to NEAHQ! Leigh Roche Melissa Tuomi Cheryl Dunnington Trudy Rairdon Treasurer’s Report NEAHQ currently has $49,238.06 in total assets. Total revenue generated in 2020 was $13,348.85. Revenue was generated from webinar fees, program fees, membership dues, advertising fees and bank account interest. Total expenditures for 2020 were $13,055.69. Total expenditures were made up of administrative and operating expenses, as well as program expenses and refunds. Net revenue for 2020 came out to $293.16. For complete details, please reach out to treasurer@neahq.org Board Member Spotlight – Lauren Hartwell Would you please share a brief overview of your career? I have worked in healthcare quality since 2011 and previously held several progressive roles at Boston Children’s Hospital as a Quality Improvement Coordinator, QI Data Analyst, and QI Consultant. Since July 2019, I have held the role of Project Manager III for the Population Health Management and Clinical Integration division at Tufts Health Plan, where I use QI methodologies to implement, evaluate, and improve population health management programs. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Mary Washington and a Master of Public Health from the Boston University School of Public Health. Which aspect of your current position is especially rewarding? Participating in the development and implementation of innovative, evidence-based programs that are designed to impact our most vulnerable member populations and advance the triple aim. Has any one individual greatly influenced to your career? I am fortunate to have had several excellent mentors throughout my career, especially during my time at Boston Children’s, where I worked closely with nursing and physician quality leaders across the organization. However, I have to say that my late grandmother, Charlotte Fitzgerald, had the most influence on my career. When I graduated college with a degree in psychology, I was favoring a career in academic research. My grandmother, a lifelong volunteer and philanthropist, encouraged me to consider a career path where my talents could serve others and have a more direct impact on the wellbeing of my community, which ultimately led me to public health! What led to your involvement with MAHQ? I was recruited by a former Board member who is a friend and fellow BUSPH graduate. We collaborated to co-host NEAHQ’s annual Healthcare Quality Week event in 2018 and then I was hooked. What are your goals as a MAHQ Board Member? As co-chair of the Program Committee, my goal is to consistently offer high quality programs that are relevant and engaging for our members. In the post-COVID future, I also aspire to increase our annual networking offerings to facilitate a greater sense of community among members. How do you balance your demanding professional life with your personal life? Here are some simple work-life balance rules that I follow to set boundaries in my life. Set aside 30-60 minutes every day for movement – walking the dog, yoga/stretching, hitting the gym, whatever works for you. I never eat in front of my computer/work during lunch. Take your 30 minutes and eat in peace! Limited screen time after 6 PM and no cell phones at the dinner table. When I’m at home with my family, I want to be fully present. 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. PI Corner – Spaghetti Diagram A spaghetti diagram is a visual representation using a continuous flow line tracing the path of an item or activity through a process. As a process analysis tool, the continuous flow line enables process teams to identify redundancies in the work flow and opportunities to expedite process flow. Spaghetti diagrams expose inefficient layouts and identify large distances traveled between key steps. News from the Net National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report 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 is based on more than 250 measures of quality and disparities covering a broad array of healthcare services and settings. Improving Diagnostic Quality and Safety/Reducing Diagnostic Error: Measurement Considerations. Final Report, National Quality Forum The National Quality Forum (NQF) convened a multistakeholder committee to identify recommendations for the practical application of the Diagnostic Process and Outcomes domain of the 2017 Diagnostic Quality and Safety Measurement Framework, measuring and reducing diagnostic error, and measuring and improving patient safety. This report outlines the recommendations through a series of four Use Cases that depict resolutions to specific types of diagnostic errors, and broad-scope, comprehensive recommendations with applications to multiple populations and settings. http://www.qualityforum.org/Publications/2020/10/Reducing_Diagnostic_Error__Measurement_Considerations_-_Final_Report.aspx
