ABQAURP News

November / December 2009

The
2009 HCQM Certification Exam window is in full swing. The American
Board of Quality Assurance Utilization Review Physicians, Inc. would
like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to all of the mentors
and exam candidates who participated in this pilot program. The program
met with great success! Approximately half of all exam candidates took
advantage of this new program.

ABQAURP
introduced the Mentoring Program in June 2009. A team of “invited” new
Diplomates who were willing to volunteer to participate and support
their new organization were recruited for the 2009 exam window. Who
better to provide first hand experience than Diplomates just recently
certified in 2008?

Mentors were paired
with exam candidates who requested mentors to inquire about personal
experience and reflection on the HCQM certification examination.
Mentors were very happy to share their experience.

ABQAURP
is confident this program will be a valuable resource to exam
candidates, as well as to new Diplomates eager to participate in the
long-standing and growing ABQAURP organization.

Mentor
participation is vitally important and greatly appreciated. The rewards
of this program for the new Diplomates and exam candidates will make
your organization even stronger.

Special thanks to the 2009 ABQAURP Mentors:
    Lauren Liverette, RN, BSN, CHCQM
    Joan Trotter, MPA, BSN, RN, CHCQM
    Ashraf Mohamed, MD, CHCQM
    Anil B. Gopinath, MD, FACP, CPE, CHCQM
    Bruce H. Redler, MD, CHCQM
    Stephen F. Staten, MD, CHCQM
    Seth M. Manoach, MD, CHCQM
    Suthipong Treeratana, MD, MBA, CHCQM
    Gregory D. Bentz, MD, PhD, CHCQ

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.

Advance a Colleague’s Career and
Help Strengthen Your Organization

As
a Diplomate or AIHQ Member, you are ABQAURP’s strongest and most
valuable resource. Your involvement in this year’s membership
development campaign plays an essential role in ensuring the vitality
of our organization. A strong membership foundation ensures a strong
association!

ABQAURP will reward the member
who recruits the largest number of new members with a $500 VISA gift
card plus a Member Spotlight on the home page of ABQAURP’s website. In
addition, Diplomates and AIHQ Members continue to earn a $25 credit for
each referred individual who converts to an AIHQ or Corporate Member or
sits for the HCQM Certification Exam by December 31, 2009. This credit
may then be used toward membership fees, publication purchases, or
conference registrations. The top recruiter will be awarded the prize
in January 2010.

New Online Courses Available

H1N1 INFLUENZA
ONLINE CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE

ABQAURP
recognizes the need for concise, quality information to combat H1N1
Influenza and the growing need for treatment by well-trained, informed
health care professionals. You should, and can, receive continuing
education credit for your H1N1 training.

ABQAURP
announces a new online CE course that focuses on this illness as a free
of charge benefit for Diplomates and Members. Diplomates and Members
may call Patti Rivers at 1-800-569-0190 ext. 117 for information on how
to sign up for this course for free!

Get
the latest information from the CDC, earn CE credits, and perpetuate
the highest quality health care you can provide by taking advantage of
this limited offer.

Certificate Course in Utilization Management Peer Reviewer Training
It
is in every clinician’s best interest to become familiar with the
principles of utilization review (UR), incorporate those principles
into private practice, and become involved in UR activities whenever
possible. Patient interests are best served through utilization reviews
performed by licensed clinicians in active practice who are dedicated
to preserving quality medical care.

This
online certificate course will provide a detailed explanation of how
healthcare professionals can keep medical decisions in the hands of
qualified practitioners by becoming peer reviewers. This approach
facilitates organizational improvements and ensures patients are
treated as individuals with attention to the specifics of each
particular situation.

Evidence-Based Medicine: Principles, Practice, Historical Perspectives and Applications in American Health Care
Course developed by ABQAURP Diplomate Joseph Jay Terrasi, MD, CHCQM
This
new online course offering defines and clarifies evidence-based medical
practice (EBM), demonstrates EBM principles, and explains 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.