ABQAURP News
July / August 2011
Regulations – Making Health Care Safer or NOT? Another Quality Conundrum
One expert after another blamed the economic downturn on a failure of regulation in the financial services world—except for the experts1 who point out that banks, central to the crisis, are amongst the most highly-regulated industries in the country, if not the world. Governors in New Jersey2 and Utah3 take aim at the regulatory environment in their states, which they claim inhibit business growth and prosperity. Sixteen states regulate playground safety4. Food safety is regulated on both the state and federal level. My own questions regarding whether the current regulatory environment improves or diminishes the quality of life prompts me to ask related questions about health care, which is key to the quality of life.
- Does regulation in health care enhance or inhibit the quality and safety of care provided to patients?5 Do we really know?
- Does restricting the ability of a pharmacist to counsel a patient on medication safety in the outpatient setting, as some states do, improve the patient’s chances of having a therapeutic response?
- Does preventing a nurse from handing out prescribed medication samples to indigent clinic patients (considered dispensing rather than administering in some states) improve a patient’s odds of medication compliance and good outcome?
- Is there strong evidence that the current regulatory inpatient environment supports safe, effective, compassionate care?
- Is there a reason that some of the newest safety initiatives (PSO) support voluntary compliance rather than new laws?
- Most of us agree that health care needs to get better—is regulatory reform part of that picture? What do you think?
References:
Please send inquiries and comments to rwillog@abqaurp.org, please use
Quality Column in the subject line.
We look forward to your participation in this new column.
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 be rewarding the member who recruits the largest number of new members with a $200 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, 2011. This credit may then be used toward membership fees, publication purchases, or conference registrations. The top recruiter will be awarded the prize in January 2012. Visit www.abqaurp.org and go to the “Member’s Only” page for eligibility rules and full details.
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HCQM Certification Examination
We are now accepting applications for the 2011 International Health Care Quality and Management (HCQM) Board Examination.
ABQAURP is dedicated to establishing Health Care Quality and Management as a specialty with definable standards upheld by knowledgeable experts. Information on the 2011 Examination Window will be available soon.
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.
Visit the website at www.abqaurp.org and choose Certification for more information.
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:
- Live Activity
- Internet Activity Live
- Enduring Material
- Internet Activity Enduring Material
- Journal-Based CME
- Performance Improvement
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 Deborah Naser at (800) 998-6030, ext. 118.
Member Update
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