Our Quality Improvement Activities
As part of our Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) contract with Medicare, Qualis Health collaborates with Idaho and Washington healthcare organizations to make measurable improvements in processes and outcomes.
Our team provides personalized assistance regarding a core set of topics (outlined below). For more general assistance regarding starting or maintaining your own quality improvement initiatives, please see our set of self-directed training resources.
Using EMRs to Effectively Manage Preventive Care
This initiative focuses on helping primary care practices make the best use of their electronic medical record (EMR) systems. Learn more about this project and the related training series.
This initiative focuses on improving clinical quality, reducing adverse events, and improving patient safety in the six specific areas listed below.
Qualis Health will collaborate with any Medicare provider interested in improvement projects related to drug safety. For the other patient safety topics, participants must meet Medicare's eligibility criteria.
| Drug safety (all settings of care) | ||
| In Idaho, please contact | In Washington, please contact | |
| Barbara Sleeper, RN BSN Send an e-mail 208-343-4617, ext. 5026 | Kathryn Bunt, MPH Send an e-mail 206-364-9700, ext. 2259 | |
| MRSA, surgical infection, heart failure | ||
| Idaho hospitals, please contact | Washington hospitals, please contact | |
| Barbara Sleeper, RN BSN Send an e-mail 208-343-4617, ext. 5026 | Sharon Eloranta, MD Send an e-mail 206-364-9700, ext. 2650 | |
| Pressure ulcers, physical restraints | ||
| Idaho nursing homes or hospitals, please contact | Washington nursing homes, please contact | |
| Barbara Sleeper, RN BSN Send an e-mail 208-343-4617, ext. 5026 | Susan Hausmann Send an e-mail 206-364-9700, ext. 2890 | |
| Washington hospitals, please contact | ||
| Sharon Eloranta, MD Send an e-mail 206-364-9700, ext. 2650 | ||
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Making a Difference in Healthcare |
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Through our work as one of Medicare’s QIOs, we have made a positive impact on healthcare. Examples include: Compared to 2005, hospitals who participated in Qualis Health's surgical infection prevention project now demonstrate a 37% improvement in starting, and an 82% improvement in discontinuing, antibiotics at the appropriate times. Learn more about the results of our recent work in Idaho. Compared to 2004, about 13% fewer of Washington's long-term nursing home residents who were identified as being at high risk for pressure ulcers now suffer from this condition. Learn more about the results of our recent work in Washington. |
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AHRQ Survey Assistance and Tools |
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Hospitals and Nursing Homes: |
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