PORTLAND, Maine. – February 10, 2015 – The Network for Regional Healthcare Improvement (NRHI), a leader in transforming U.S. healthcare, announced today that the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute is a new member of NRHI. Joining the more than 30 Regional Health Improvement Collaboratives who serve over 40% of all Americans, the Quality Institute is a multi-stakeholder organization that provides a neutral and trusted platform for all parties throughout New Jersey to collaborate on the many activities required for the successful transformation of its healthcare system.
“The New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute is a strong and effective voice for healthcare improvement and has pioneered many initiatives to expand access to health insurance, improve hospital safety and quality reporting, and promote price transparency,” says Elizabeth Mitchell, President and CEO, NRHI.
“Being nationally recognized as New Jersey’s Regional Health Improvement Collaborative emphasizes the unique role the Quality Institute plays working to transform the entire healthcare system, with all the stakeholders, so that patients can receive quality care at the right time in the right setting and can afford it as well,” says Linda Schwimmer, JD, Vice President of the Quality Institute.
“We’re known for bringing together groups that sometimes come from conflicting points of view: providers and payers, patients and policymakers, innovators and industry veterans,” explains President and CEO, David L. Knowlton. “We set the table for frank, productive dialogue on difficult issues such as the cost of care and Medicaid reform.” With more than 100 member organizations, and growing steadily since Knowlton founded it in 1997, the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute is the only nonprofit, nonpartisan, statewide entity that convenes representatives of every healthcare interest.
NRHI’s member organizations forge innovative collaboratives to drive healthcare improvement regionally and create the best models nationally. “Recognition by NRHI enables us to join new initiatives funded by grants and federal dollars and to expand our impact working with our thoughtful colleagues around the country,” notes Schwimmer.
“Our major initiatives are diverse, but all focus on demonstrably improving healthcare quality, safety, accountability and transparency, while reducing costs,” Schwimmer continues. “For example, our Quality Improvement (QI) Collaborative is actively advising the seven communities seeking state certification for their Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations to care for underserved populations. At the same time, our Mayors Wellness Campaign facilitates grassroots health initiatives across more than 350 towns. As the regional representative for the Leapfrog Group and its Hospital Safety Survey, the Quality Institute is responsible for encouraging hospitals to publicly report their safety and quality data.” Last year 60 of the 71 targeted New Jersey hospitals supplied their information, achieving the third highest participation rate in the U.S.