ABQAURP News
Quality Conundrums
Women’s Health Centers: A Quality Conundrum?
Women make approximately 80% of health care purchasing decisions in the U.S.1 Not surprisingly, health care marketing programs increasingly target women. One such approach is the proliferation of women’s health centers.2 Do these marketers understand the needs of women?3 Do current approaches to health care marketing achieve the 2001 Institute of Medicine-established characteristics of a highly functioning health care system: safe, effective, patient centered, timely, efficient and equitable? Perhaps not!
Research over the last years has examined the issues of concordance/congruity between caregivers’ (physicians, nurses, and others) and patients’ race, language, ethnicity, and in some cases, gender. Some studies have found that patient preferences for health care provider concordance with race, ethnicity, or language disappeared when other variables were included, such as socioeconomic status. Other studies have not. One study found that the least satisfied patients were female patients of female physicians and the most satisfied patients were male patients of female physicians.4
One previous justification for focusing on increasing diversity in health care providers was that health care providers from disadvantaged backgrounds were more likely to provide health care services to disadvantaged patients who generally had less access to care.5 Gender concordance was not one of the variables addressed in this study, which is unfortunate. A conclusion of this particular study was that significant additional research was needed to determine if changing the characteristics of the health care workforce would change access and other outcomes for patients. No one yet knows if recent changes in health care financing (ACA) will change these findings.
The requirement for additional research on the makeup of the clinical work force that best meets the needs of patients should be extrapolated to the proliferation of women’s health centers. Increased focus on evidence-based medicine and value-based purchasing should require that we answer the following questions: 1) Is creating Women’s Health Centers doing the right thing? 2) Are we giving women an increased opportunity to get the care they need and prefer or forcing them into more constrained, stereotyped options? 3) If gender congruity between patients and caregivers is important for female patients, what other types of “matching” are important and ethically acceptable to professionals as well as patients?
I’m worried.
1http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/newsroom/fshlth5.html
2http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/lists/100-hospitals-with-great-women-s-health-programs-2014.html
3https://jamiedunham.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/marketing-healthcare-to-women-ten-things-you-need-to-know/
4http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1495609/
5http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/reports/diversityreviewevidence.pdf
Please send inquiries and comments to rwillog@abqaurp.org, please include Quality Column in the subject line.
We look forward to your participation in this column.
Health Care Quality and Management (HCQM) Certification
When deciding on a credential, you want the best, most comprehensive certification that covers the entire health care quality continuum. Choose the provider with the experience that has come to define the field of Health Care Quality and Management.
ABQAURP is pleased to collaborate with the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®) in the administration of the HCQM certification exam. ABQAURP is dedicated to assuring a high quality certification process with definable standards; the NBME involvement reinforces that dedication. Together, we consult on the planning, development, analysis, and scoring of the certification exam, bringing examinees an exam experience based on a vast array of knowledge and expertise.
We are currently accepting applications for the 2015 HCQM exam window
Early Registration Discount – Take $50 off your Exam Fee by April 30, 2015
Application Deadline: June 30, 2015
Exam Window: August 15 – October 15, 2015
Don’t delay, seating is limited!
“National Board of Medical Examiners®” and “NBME®” are registered trademarks of the National Board of Medical Examiners.
Prepare Now!
CORE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE ONLINE COURSE 20 CME/CE Hours!
The journey towards certification begins here. ABQAURP’s HCQM Certification covers an immense scope of content and topics. To aid you in preparation for this exam, we have developed a Core Body of Knowledge course designed to focus on key concepts and elements of HCQM. By utilizing this tool, you will build upon your existing skills and knowledge and possibly discover new content that will enhance your experience in quality health care. Completing this course now will meet the educational requirements for the 2015 exam cycle.
Please call Barbara Morris at: (800) 998-6030, extension 116, or visit our website (www.abqaurp.org) for more information on Certification and preparation.
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 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.
For more information, please call Deborah Naser at (800) 998-6030, ext. 118.
HIGH QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE CARE THROUGH ACCOUNTABILITY
ABQAURP’s 38th Annual Health Care Quality and Patient Safety Conference
Friday, April 17, 2015
Royal Sonesta Houston – Houston, TX
As the ICD-10 implementation deadline looms, there are still many questions: What is the benefit of a new system? Why do we have to update now? The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has projected great value: reduced need for record reviews, less supporting documentation for claims, reduced fraud opportunity, etc. The value of transitioning will be present throughout the health care continuum.
Houston-area innovators are already on the frontlines. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has made great strides in utilizing EHRs to provide the data clinicians need to provide quality care. Launching a bridge to ICD-10 early-on, they have the advantage before implementation occurs around the nation. What has their experience shown that practitioners can really use moving toward October?
Nationally, Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) data was released in the last six months. Does the data show reduced cost? Is the quality of care better when coordinated? New fraud and abuse waivers have been extended, and proposed changes to the MSSP are on the horizon. Our legal experts will discuss what physician leaders need to know about MSSP performance and upcoming changes. Memorial Hermann ACO saw first-year savings through a successful physician network and an ACO-implementation plan that worked. Perhaps their experience will provide a better path.
Meanwhile, the patient has a louder voice in their care. Do clinicians know the best way to provide customer service and medical care? Engaging the patient will not only ensure your value as a practitioner, but increased quality and reduced costs are long-term benefits to everyone working together on the care team.
Don’t miss this opportunity to network with renowned national faculty, health care executives, influential health care decision-makers, and some of Houston’s leading experts discussing these important topics. It’s not too late!
REGISTER NOW at: www.abqaurp.org
EXHIBIT AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES STILL AVAILABLE!
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to demonstrate the value of your products and services outside of today’s crowded marketplace! Please call (800) 998-6030 for information on sponsorship opportunities.
Health Care Quality and Management (HCQM) Certification
When deciding on a credential, you want the best, most comprehensive certification that covers the entire health care quality continuum. Choose the provider with the experience that has come to define the field of Health Care Quality and Management.
ABQAURP is pleased to collaborate with the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®) in the administration of the HCQM certification exam. ABQAURP is dedicated to assuring a high quality certification process with definable standards; the NBME involvement reinforces that dedication. Together, we consult on the planning, development, analysis, and scoring of the certification exam, bringing examinees an exam experience based on a vast array of knowledge and expertise.
We are currently accepting applications for the 2015 HCQM exam window.
Early Registration Discount – Take $100 off your Exam Fee by February 28, 2015
Application Deadline: June 30, 2015
Exam Window: August 15 – October 15, 2015
Don’t delay, seating is limited!
“National Board of Medical Examiners®” and “NBME®” are registered trademarks of the National Board of Medical Examiners.
Prepare Now!
CORE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE ONLINE COURSE
20 CME/CE Hours!
The journey towards certification begins here. ABQAURP’s HCQM Certification covers an immense scope of content and topics. To aid you in preparation for this exam, we have developed a Core Body of Knowledge course designed to focus on key concepts and elements of HCQM. By utilizing this tool, you will build upon your existing skills and knowledge and possibly discover new content that will enhance your experience in quality health care. Completing this course now will meet the educational requirements for the 2015 exam cycle.
Please call Barbara Morris at: (800) 998-6030, extension 116, or visit our website (www.abqaurp.org) for more information on Certification and preparation.
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ABQAURP wants to recognize members for their achievements in advancing the field of health care quality management and patient safety. Please send your news to ABQAURP by email to feature@abqaurp.org for consideration. |