NJ Towns: Raise Age for Tobacco Sales to 21
Today we work in smoke-free offices, eat in smoke-free restaurants, and view cigarettes as a vice of the few — not an acceptable practice of the many. Yet the days when smoking was acceptable were not so long ago. I remember when I started working in a small New Jersey law firm in 1993. Lit cigarettes…Read More…
Take Five with NRHI President
Elizabeth Mitchell, President & CEO, Network for Regional Healthcare Improvement, (NRHI). Can you tell us more about NRHI (pronounced EN-ree)? NRHI is a national network of 40 regional health improvement collaboratives — we call them “RHICs” for short — working in their communities, states or regions to improve health and health care. These are organizations similar…Read More…
Take Five with Quality Institute’s New Senior Director
Tyla Housman joined the Quality Institute this month as Senior Director. Can you tell us about your new position at the Quality Institute? I will be leading the QI Collaborative and directing other policy initiatives. The collaborative will continue with our learning network for the state’s certified ACOs and other community health care collaborations. I…Read More…
Using Travel As A Teaching Tool, And A Lever For Change
Published in Health Affairs Blog By Jan Nicholson Foundations seeking to drive systems change in health care have a powerful method they can use to educate health system leaders. The Nicholson Foundation has found that sponsoring out-of-state, or even out-of-country, learning trips is an especially effective way to spread knowledge and inspire new ways of thinking. The…Read More…
Moving the Affordable Care Act Forward
The Affordable Care Act is becoming less affordable. Premiums are rising and so are deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses. Costs are increasing for both employers and consumers. And last year national health expenditures jumped 5.3 percent. (In 2013 the jump was 2.9 percent.) The nation’s health care bill is not growing as fast as it did…Read More…
New Jersey Considers Physician Discipline Changes
Published in NorthJersey.com By Jean Rimbach A state review of how regulators handle allegations of sexual abuse by doctors is continuing, and more recommendations and policy changes are possible. So far, initiatives detailed by Steve C. Lee, acting director of the state Division of Consumer Affairs, have included a tough approach to discipline, improving transparency, and…Read More…
Before I Die: Why Everyone’s Talking
Published in Courier Post By Kim Mulford Christine Corti knows how hard it can be to talk openly about death and dying. The 39-year-old graphic designer for Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice spends her workday surrounded by the discussion. Her own mother scolds her when Corti says someone has “died.” Her parents are more conservative than she…Read More…
New Era, New Challenges at Quality Institute
By Linda J. Schwimmer, JD I know you are accustomed to seeing Dave Knowlton’s views in this space as he shared his singular insight surrounding health care with all of you for the past several years. As I take over the reins at the Quality Institute — and Dave enjoys his much-deserved retirement — I hope you…Read More…
New President Schwimmer Describes Next Steps for Health Care Quality Institute
Published in NJBIZ By Anjalee Khemlani Linda Schwimmer has taken the helm of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute in Pennington. As the new president of the institute, Schwimmer said she intends to continue the legacy left behind by David Knowlton, and carry out the mission to take on initiatives to further transparency and accountability…Read More…
It Takes a Village to Support the ‘Conversation of a Lifetime’
One of the Quality Institute’s most innovative and exciting initiatives is Conversation of a Lifetime, a part of our Mayors Wellness Campaign. I’ve asked our Director of Community Health, Janan Dave, to take over my blog today to report on this effort. Janan has been engaging New Jersey mayors to encourage important end-of-life discussions among…Read More…