January / February 2010

The One thing is certain with health reform, namely that physicians, hospitals, and other health care providers will be increasingly accountable for the quality, outcomes, cost, and overall care of patients. Emphasis will be placed on patient care and utilization, clinical processes, and outcomes. Detecting and preventing waste, fraud, inappropriate care, and abuse in the health care system will also be critical.

In this era of accountability, those who have advanced training and certification in Health Care Quality and Management (HCQM) possess the practical knowledge and the tools needed to address these critical areas of concern. Health care professionals with HCQM certification have demonstrated that they are equipped with the skills needed to reduce medical errors, ensure patient safety, eliminate waste and unnecessary services, avoid potentially harmful delays in care, and improve outcomes.

Certification in HCQM positions the health care professional at the leading edge of health reform legislation. Professionals who are committed to patient safety, health care quality, and effective care will achieve the solution to many of the problems in the health care system. Purchasers, payors, providers, and patients recognize the advantage of professionals certified as experts in health care quality and management, for they have demonstrated their ability to critically evaluate the literature, identify evidence-based best practices, and make a recommendation that balances appropriateness of services with cost and quality.

HCQM certification addresses the need for effectiveness, efficiency, equity, safety, appropriateness, and timeliness. The result is a safer, more efficient, and effective outcome and value-driven system.

If you would like to inquire about eligibility to sit for the 2010 Health Care Quality and Management Board Examination,
please contact Barbara Charmers at (800) 998-6030 extension 116.

ABQAURP welcomes applications for joint sponsorship of educational activities for continuing education credit. ABQAURP accredits a variety of activities, including:

ABQAURP is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians and is also accredited by the Florida Board of Nursing to sponsor nursing contact hours. As an accredited provider, ABQAURP is here to work with each joint sponsor organization to ensure the accreditation process runs as smoothly as possible. Benefits of working with ABQAURP include: one-on-one assistance, on-site assistance, contact for speakers and commercial supporters, evaluation compilation, one-time mailing list to drive attendance, website placement, and advertising in Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare magazine.

ABQAURP believes that ongoing continuing education in new research, identified problem areas in clinical practice, and areas of interest in the quality assurance, utilization review, risk management, and managed care fields is a worthy endeavor to pursue. Participants improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of health care delivered to the patients to improve the overall clinical outcome. Plus, each activity encourages participants to put into practice knowledge learned and assess the impact. Innovative courses provide important updates and practical tools for all health care professionals. These activities ensure that participating health care professionals receive up-to-date information on the ever-changing health care environment.

Atlanta, Georgia, welcomes the 2010 Annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Conference & Exhibition, March 1-4, 2010, at the Georgia World Congress Center. Some 29,000 healthcare industry professionals and 900 exhibitors are expected to attend and discuss cutting-edge technology and innovative healthcare solutions designed to improve patient care.

ABQAURP is proud to collaborate with HIMSS at this annual event that helps healthcare IT and management systems professionals make the right decisions about their upcoming purchases.

Key issues to be addressed at HIMSS10 include ARRA, cost efficiencies, EMR adoption, privacy & security, CPOE, quality, and patient safety. Leading keynote speakers, more than 300 education sessions and innovative exhibits offering healthcare delivery solutions round out the conference.
ABQAURP members are invited to attend HIMSS10 at the HIMSS Member Rate. Please visit https://www.compusystems.com/jsp/AttendeeReg/HIMSS10/HIMSSRegistration.htm and supply your ABQAURP Member ID to be registered at the reduced rate.