Schwimmer Script Blog
Health Care Providers Are The Trusted Voices We Need in the Vaccine Conversation
We begin the new year with optimism after the emergency use approval of two COVID-19 vaccines and more in the pipeline. These vaccines are urgently needed as the virus continues to surge. We’re especially thrilled to see health care workers on the frontlines obtain the benefits of the vaccine after months of bravely caring for…Read More…
Surprise Bills: A Federal Solution in Sight
Congress may surprise us and finally deliver on addressing surprise medical bills. Bi-partisan members of both Houses are working to get the No Surprises Act on President Trump’s desk before next week. The bill would apply to employer-sponsored insurance, generally regulated under federal law, and would cover about half or more of all Americans with…Read More…
Improving Health Care Post-Election 2020
Our virtual winter conference on Tuesday began with an inspiring slide show of our members and government partners. They’re working to save lives and caring for those who’ve contracted COVID-19. They’re also delivering food and sewing facemasks — and investing in the health and wellness of their communities. They’re advancing new protocols, vaccines, and therapies…Read More…
2020 Election Results Create Opportunities for Change in U.S. Health Care Policy
With our nation welcoming a new president and federal administration, we should seize the opportunity to improve our health care system. At the Quality Institute, we work closely with our members, many of them on the frontlines of medicine, and we know how federal policies affect all of our efforts to improve safety, quality, and…Read More…
Rutgers Project Echo Provides Critical Support for New Jersey Nursing Homes
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing home residents and the staff who care for them have been in the eye of the storm. In New Jersey, more than 4,000 of the residents have died from the virus. Nationwide, the number is more than 61,000 individuals, which is over a quarter of all COVID…Read More…
Increase and Improve Pregnancy-Related Care for All
Today I’m turning my blog over to Kate Shamszad, MS, MPH, who is a Senior Program Officer in the Quality Institute’s Medicaid Policy Center. The Medicaid Policy Center delivers independent research, analysis, and policy solutions to improve health outcomes while also controlling health care costs. New Jersey is stronger when we can all make decisions…Read More…
Keep Driving Quality — Despite the Challenges of 2020
I recently re-read the blog that I wrote in January, which outlined the Quality Institute’s priorities for 2020. Of course, there’s no mention of PPEs, masks, or COVID-19. But our overall goals and ideas to drive quality, community health, and affordability have not changed during this turbulent year. I’d like to update you as we…Read More…
Our New Work Group Will Support Mental Health in New Jersey Communities
The months of fear, isolation, and deaths associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have created a mental health emergency in our towns and cities. The trauma of the pandemic — along with economic uncertainty, social unrest, and environmental catastrophes — is affecting our emotional well-being. If you cannot sleep at night, you’re not alone. The…Read More…
This Flu Season Is An Important Test for New Jersey
Influenza vaccine is now being shipped to New Jersey, and perhaps never before has a strong, widespread flu vaccination effort been more critical to the health and safety of our residents. There is no vaccine against COVID-19. But we do have an effective flu vaccine. The upcoming winter could be among the deadliest in…Read More…
Refocusing the Mayors Wellness Campaign in the Time of COVID
Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh kicked off 2020 with a new Mayors Wellness Campaign (MWC) to prioritize the health of the city’s residents. There were community walks from City Hall to the Great Falls, an employee wellness program, and community aerobic classes. Then, life as we knew it changed. Mayor Sayegh shared in a recent Op-Ed…Read More…