The Joint Commission and Kaiser Permanente are now accepting applications for the 2023 Bernard J. Tyson National Award for Excellence in Pursuit of Healthcare Equity.
Bernard J. Tyson, the late CEO and chair of Kaiser Permanente, worked tirelessly to address the healthcare disparities that plague the U.S. healthcare system. Now in its third year, the award recognizes a healthcare organization for an intervention that led to a measurable and sustained reduction in at least one healthcare disparity.
All types of healthcare organizations that directly deliver healthcare and have addressed disparities for any vulnerable population, including but not limited to race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status, may apply. In their application, organizations must provide data demonstrating how they have improved a disparity.
This year's application period is open today through May 10 at 11:59 p.m. CT, and there is no cost to apply. The Tyson Award presents the opportunity for national recognition as well as to share best practices with thousands of healthcare organizations across the country.
Please visit the Tyson Award webpage for more information and to apply. There are several resources available for applicants, including:
- Application preview
- Last year’s winning applications
- Application tip sheet
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is recruiting primary care practices to participate in the AHRQ Safety Program for Telemedicine: Improving the Diagnostic Process.
The AHRQ Safety Program for Telemedicine aims to “develop and implement a bundle of evidence-based interventions designed to improve telemedicine care in two settings — the cancer diagnostic process and antibiotic use,” according to the AHRQ website. The program is funded and guided by AHRQ and implemented by NORC at the University of Chicago, the Johns Hopkins Medicine Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, and Baylor College of Medicine.
Participants will receive training on ways to:
- Reduce diagnostic delays for cancer diagnoses in patients seen in the telemedicine environment.
- Enhance teamwork and communication.
- Improve patient, family, provider, and staff satisfaction.
AHRQ is hosting an informational webinar on March 30 for organizations interested in participating in the program.
Refreshed Accelerate PI™ Dashboard Reports are available for primary (PSCs) and comprehensive stroke centers (CSCs) to provide updated performance measurement data on the quality measures selected for advanced PSC and CSC certification programs. The refreshed reports contain data through the third quarter of 2022.
The dashboards provide performance measurement data on all the measures that PSCs and CSCs report using the Certification Measure Information Process (CMIP). The reports are intended to be a springboard for conversations on performance measures and quality improvement during the certification process, as well as a guide to support an organization’s quality journey.
Reports are located under the “Resources and Tools” menu below the DASH heading in Joint Commission Connect®. Users must select “Certification” on the home screen prior to accessing the menu.
The Joint Commission has appointed Melinda Lehman, MBA, as the new executive director of its Behavioral Healthcare and Human Services (BHC) Accreditation Program. Lehman is a healthcare executive with more than 25 years of experience in business development and marketing.
As executive director, Lehman will be responsible for developing and executing strategic business plans to expand the BHC Program, including driving product development to meet the needs of current and prospective customers. Additionally, Lehman will oversee marketing strategies and support the development of BHC standards, education programs and other accreditation-related resources.
Previously, Lehman spent 15 years in The Joint Commission’s Marketing Department, most recently as Associate Director of Marketing for the program. During that time, she contributed to the BHC Program doubling in size from approximately 1,800 accredited organizations to nearly 4,000. Prior to The Joint Commission, Lehman worked in pharmaceutical sales and at several healthcare advertising and marketing agencies in Chicago.
“Melinda has proven experience in growing The Joint Commission’s BHC Program and is a strong fit for this leadership role,” said Brian Enochs, JD, Executive Vice President, Business Development and Marketing. “As the demand for behavioral healthcare services continue to increase, I look forward to Melinda’s expertise in identifying new opportunities to grow, while also continuing to focus on patient safety and quality improvement for individuals served.”
Lehman graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, with a bachelor’s degree in communications. She also received her Master of Business Administration from DePaul University, Chicago. She is a Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
Launched in 1969, The Joint Commission began accrediting healthcare organizations with programs/services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program expanded in 1972 to include organizations providing mental health and addiction services.
Learn more about BHC Accreditation.
NAHQ’s virtual Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality® (CPHQ) Review Course is filling up fast. Register today to save a seat for the April 14-28 session. The review course provides continuing education credits, features expert instructors in an online classroom setting and is designed to support those planning to take the updated CPHQ certification exam. Register.