An innovative approach to build high-reliability hospitals in rural and underserved areas
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services named nine organizations, including TMF Health Quality Institute, as Hospital Quality Improvement Contractors (HQICs) for the CMS Quality Improvement Program. The new CMS Hospital Quality Improvement (HQI) initiative builds on the achievements from CMS’ previous initiatives, Hospital Improvement Innovation Network and Hospital Engagement Networks, with a keen focus to improve patient safety, quality and outcomes in rural, critical access and vulnerable populations.
As an HQIC as of September 2020, TMF collaborates with participating hospitals to focus on reducing all-cause patient harm and readmissions in rural, medically underserved and vulnerable populations. TMF facilitates health care transformation by working with participating hospitals to identify, use and spread evidence-based practices, and through the systematic use of quality improvement science. As an organization with a history of strong connectedness to hospital organizations, TMF leverages our ability to support hospitals by committing to challenging goals and remaining in on-going action to adapt and test practices in support of achieving those goals.
Goals and Areas of Focus
In alignment with the CMS Rural Health Strategy, TMF’s initiative focuses on engaging rural and critical access hospitals and hospitals serving vulnerable populations. TMF provides quality improvement and technical assistance support to address opportunities in the following areas:
- Patient safety
- Patient and family engagement
- Leadership engagement
- Health care disparities
- Public health emergencies
For next steps on participation or additional information, visit Hospital Quality Improvement Initiative.
Your hospital and providers work hard every day to provide safe reliable quality care. TMF invites you to partner with us to work to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, economy and quality of services delivered to the patients you serve.