The One thing is certain with health reform, namely that physicians, hospitals, and other health care providers will be increasingly accountable for the quality, outcomes, cost, and overall care of patients. Emphasis will be placed on patient care and utilization, clinical processes, and outcomes. Detecting and preventing waste, fraud, inappropriate care, and abuse in the health care system will also be critical.

In this era of accountability, those who have advanced training and certification in Health Care Quality and Management (HCQM) possess the practical knowledge and the tools needed to address these critical areas of concern. Health care professionals with HCQM certification have demonstrated that they are equipped with the skills needed to reduce medical errors, ensure patient safety, eliminate waste and unnecessary services, avoid potentially harmful delays in care, and improve outcomes.

Certification in HCQM positions the health care professional at the leading edge of health reform legislation. Professionals who are committed to patient safety, health care quality, and effective care will achieve the solution to many of the problems in the health care system. Purchasers, payors, providers, and patients recognize the advantage of professionals certified as experts in health care quality and management, for they have demonstrated 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, appropriateness, and timeliness. The result is a safer, more efficient, and effective outcome and value-driven system.

If you would like to inquire about eligibility to sit for the 2010 Health Care Quality and Management Board Examination,
please contact Barbara Charmers at (800) 998-6030 extension 116.

SAVE THE DATE

For ABQAURP's 33rd Annual Health Care Quality & Patient Safety Conference
Saturday, October 23rd, 2010 — Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
Register Early! 2009 Conference at the Walt Disney World® Resort sold out.

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 Greg Zeaman at (800) 998-6030, ext. 118.

Today the administration announced the availability of $235 million in funds to support the Beacon Community Program.  The Beacon Community Program (BCP) will help to accelerate and demonstrate the ability of health IT to transform local health care systems, and to improve the lives of Americans and the performance of the health care providers who serve them. 

Implementing health IT is one thing.  Knowing what to do with the data, and turning the data into information is another.  Are you prepared to meet this challenge?

In an era of accountability, Health Care Quality and Management (HCQM) certification demonstrates that Diplomates have the practical knowledge and the tools that can reduce medical errors, ensure patient safety, eliminate waste, eliminate unnecessary services, and avoid potentially harmful delays in care. Certification demonstrates to internal entities that you, your group practice, or hospital is accountable. The result is a safer, more efficient and cost-effective system that better satisfies the needs of patients, providers, purchasers, and payers.

Professionals who have achieved certification in HCQM are deeply committed to patient safety, health care quality, and effective care. Those certified in HCQM demonstrate 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.