In recent weeks, the Quality Institute has accomplished significant work on issues that advance our mission to improve health care quality, safety, and affordability. You may have read the two significant reports we published this month, viewed our article on telehealth, or seen our press coverage. I nonetheless want to bring all this critical work together to share with you here.

First, I co-authored an ambitious article, “Measuring the Effectiveness and Value of Virtual Health Care,” with Chuck Amos of the National Quality Forum (NQF) that advocated for measuring the quality, effectiveness, and equitable access of telehealth. The piece was published this month in the American Journal of Accountable Care. We urged that the findings of this research be used to support the expansion and payment policies for virtual care.

Also this month, we published, Short- and Long-Term Strategies to Support Health Care Affordability and Price Transparency for Small Employers and Consumers in New Jersey. The white paper provides deep background on the market, existing challenges to affordability, and nine potential actions we can take to strengthen the market for small businesses and organizations in our state. At the Quality Institute, we see the challenges firsthand, and we know the struggles that small business committed to insuring their employees face each year.

And finally, in this very busy month we published, with The Burke Foundation, Delivering Better Care: Midwifery Practice in New Jersey. The ambitious report outlines how we can strengthen and support midwifery in New Jersey to improve maternal infant health and address unacceptable racial inequities. The report received a great deal of attention, as well as valuable TV and print press coverage.

Our research and policy articles are not created in an Ivory Tower. We rely on you, our members, and your insight and perspective. We work hard to bring people from all areas of health care to the table — and we listen to and value all your voices. Happy reading and, as always, we welcome your thoughts and look forward to working with you on these issues and others.