September / October 2009

Health care is changing. There is a need for Quality Management to ensure people are getting appropriate care. There is a need for unbiased, impartial opinions. Oversight is needed to ensure care is not being denied only for cost reasons.

But who is watching the watchers? How do you ensure the protection of the public, the purchasers, the payors, AND the providers?

Attend this premier health care conference to position yourself for success in this turbulent health care environment.

An expert panel has been assembled to discuss these topics:

• Peer Review in the Hospital Setting: Ensuring Patient Safety & Appropriate Care
• The Legal Foundation of Peer Review and Current Challenges
• A Reviewer’s Look at Drug Abuse and Pill Mill’s Impact on Care
• Peer Review and Quality Improvement in an Era of Health Reform
• Peer Review in an Era of Consumer Ranking: What to Do?
• The Evolving Role of Health Plans in the Oversight of Care: How Electronic Information Supports Peer Review Activities
• How Can Small Practices Compete? Is the QIO Here to Help?
• Peer Review: Protecting the Public or Protecting the Pocketbook?
• An insider perspective.
  

Please visit the website at www.abqaurp.org for details or call Patti Rivers at
(800) 998-6030, extension 117 to register today!

HCQM Certification Exam

Good luck to all 2009 Exam Candidates!

ABQAURP is the only Health Care Quality and Management (HCQM) organization with an examination developed, administered, and evaluated through the National Board of Medical Examiners' (NBME) testing expertise. ABQAURP and the NBME collaborate on the planning, development, analysis, and scoring of the certification examination. The NBME's involvement in the certification process reflects ABQAURP's dedication to establishing Health Care Quality and Management as a specialty with definable standards upheld by knowledgeable experts.

Professionals who have achieved certification in Health Care Quality and Management (HCQM) are deeply committed to patient safety, health care quality, and effective care. Those certified in HCQM have demonstrated superior skills in 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, and timeliness.

Already HCQM certified?

Boost your career by adding sub-specialty certifications to your credential!

Individuals who perform or are involved in any of the activities below have the opportunity to enhance their existing clinical credentials by obtaining Sub-Specialty certification. This option is a reflection of ABQAURP’s continual evolution into the many associated areas of Health Care Quality and Management.
Additional certifications are available in the following categories:

• Case Management
• Managed Care
• Patient Safety / Risk Management
• Workers’ Compensation
  

Call Barbara Chalmers at (800) 998-6030, extension 116 or visit the website at www.abqaurp.org and choose Certification for more information.

New Online Courses Available
Evidence-based Medicine: Principles, Practice, Historical Perspectives and Applications in American Health Care

Course developed by ABQAURP Diplomate Joseph Jay Terrasi, MD, CHCQM
New online course offering will define and clarify evidence-based medical practice (EBM), demonstrate EBM principles, and explain the historical perspective of EBM in medical practice. The course discusses contemporary applications in practice and Organizational Mandates in support of EBM; further focusing on the application of evidence-based principles to financial management in health care.

An Introduction to the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Journey
Now available in a 5-hour online course
Course developed by ABQAURP Diplomate Lynn Helmer, MD, CHCQM
Quality has come more into focus throughout the nation. Not only health care, but all American business and industry are beginning to understand that poor quality costs companies. Improved quality coincides with improved productivity, lower costs, and increased profitability.

This National Quality Award was introduced in part to:

• Help provide strategic planning for quality and quality improvement programs through a commitment to excellence in manufacturing and services, which is becoming more essential to the well-being of our Nation's economy and our ability to compete effectively in the global marketplace.
• Help stimulate American companies to improve quality and productivity for the pride of recognition while obtaining a competitive edge through increased profits.
• Recognize the achievements of those companies that improve the quality of their goods and services and providing an example to others.
• Establish guidelines and Criteria that can be used by business, industry, government, and other organizations in evaluating their own quality improvement efforts.
• Provide guidance for organizations that wish to learn how to manage for high quality by making available detailed information on how winning organizations were able to change their practices.
  

This online course provides an overview of the Award Journey, an Introduction to the Award process, and details the application and scoring process.

IS YOUR MEDICAL EDUCATION ACCREDITED?
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.

For more information, please call Greg Zeaman at (800) 998-6030, ext. 118.