Health Care Vision 2020

Aligning Forces for Quality
Quality Improvement Work Group

Charter

DRAFT

Overall purpose:  Develop a regional quality improvement infrastructure to promote and support physician organizations and physicians improving the quality and efficiency of ambulatory care provided to persons with chronic conditions through the creation of a West Michigan Center for Health Improvement.

Reports to:  Governance Board

Charge:

• Review the planning phase work plan supplied to the work group and recommend any desired and appropriate modifications to the plan.
• Develop, for governance work group action, a work plan covering the implementation phase of the work group’s activities and responsibilities.
• Identify, and develop an operating agreement with an organization (preferably an

existing entity) to host/sponsor the West Michigan Center for Health Improvement.

• Research quality improvement strategies/interventions/tools that have proven effective in West Michigan and elsewhere in helping physicians to improve their quality
  • Including but not limited to the Chronic Care Model and lean principles.
• Assess preferences and perceived needs of West Michigan primary care physicians for quality improvement support.
• Create, working in close conjunction with the Center, a series or suite of quality improvement strategies/tools/interventions targeted to primary care physicians who care for chronic disease patients
  • Expected emphasis upon Chronic Care Model elements and lean thinking/production philosophy, principles and tools.
• Create strategies for making West Michigan physicians aware of the Center, its purpose and its QI offerings.
• Create incentives to encourage and motivate physicians to utilize the Center’s QI assistance.
• Work with the Performance Measurement Work Group to ensure that there is an ability to assess--in an ongoing manner, via performance metrics-- the impact of the Center’s QI support to physicians.
• Develop linkages with the MPRO DOC-IT initiative and with the MDCH Primary Care Consortium by which to achieve appropriate levels of synergy among these efforts.
• Oversee and guide implementation of developed quality improvement strategies/interventions/tools.
• Develop a business plan for ensuring the ongoing financial sustainability of the Center.
• Participate in the design and conduct of the initiative’s evaluation  as appropriate.
• Other activities that may arise during the course of this initiative relevant to the interest and expertise of the work group.

Expectations of work group members:

• Duration of appointment—3 years
• Attendance at meetings—frequency
• Additional work