Stratis Health to Support Patient Safety Work Nationwide

Minnesota quality improvement organization awarded patient safety improvement contract

Published Tuesday, November 4, 2008 11:00 am
by Kristina Milinkovich

Stratis Health, an independent, nonprofit quality improvement organization, has been awarded a contract to support operations of the Medicare Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) nationwide to improve patient safety and health care quality.

The Medicare QIO programs serve all 50 states and four U.S. territories, working with health care providers across many settings of care, including hospitals and nursing homes, to help improve the care delivered. Physicians, registered nurses, and quality improvement experts employed by QIOs help health care providers improve clinical and organizational systems and processes of care.

Stratis Health entered into a contract as of October 1, 2008, with the Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality (OFMQ) in which they will jointly serve as the national Patient Safety Quality Improvement Organization Support Center. Stratis Health will develop and offer tools, resources, training, and support for QIOs to work with hospitals and nursing homes on such clinical areas as pressure ulcers and physical restraints, and in organizational leadership and team building. OFMQ approached Stratis Health as a contact partner because of its experience and expertise in patient safety, systems improvement, and nursing home improvement.

"Stratis Health is a leader in health care quality improvement, demonstrated by its years of experience and success in the QIO program," said Dale Bratzler, president and CEO of OMFQ. "We are glad to leverage that expertise for all QIOs as partners in the Patient Safety QIOSC through 2011."

"We have been intimately involved in supporting the nursing home and hospital communities in Minnesota for some time now, and we have seen great improvements in quality and patient safety," said Jennifer Lundblad, president and CEO of Stratis Health. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to bring our Minnesota experience to bear nationally in clinical quality and patient safety-and just as importantly-in changing the culture of hospitals and nursing homes to be patient and resident centered, driven by strong leadership and empowered staff."

About Stratis Health

Stratis Health is a nonprofit organization founded in 1971 that leads collaboration and innovation in health care quality and safety, and serves as a trusted expert in facilitating improvement for people and communities.