NAHQ 29th Annual Conference

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 8–10 AM
Establishing a Climate of Quality Throughout the Organization
Sister Mary Jean Ryan, FSM, President/CEO,SSM Health Care, St. Louis, MO

Sister Mary Jean will talk about the efforts that led to SSM Health Care’s selection as the first healthcare organization in the United States to be named a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award winner in 2002. Although the award was a significant milestone, it is one component of the organization’s 12-year CQI efforts across its system of 21 acute care hospitals and three nursing homes.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 8–10 AM
Pursuing Perfection: Raising the Bar for Healthcare Performance
Michael B. Rothman, MPP, Senior Program Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton, NJ

Mr. Rothman will review the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s national $2-million initiative titled “Pursuing Perfection: Raising the Bar for Health Care Performance.” Launched in May 2001, the Pursuing Perfection Program came at the same time as the release of survey findings that showed more than half of healthcare providers and administrators believe the overall quality of healthcare in the United States is low. The survey also indicated that 80% of healthcare providers believe fundamental changes are needed in the healthcare system.