RWJF selects Regions Hospital to take part in its effort to improve cardiac care delivered in hospitals

Sep 11 2009

MN Community Measurement today announced that Regions Hospital has been selected by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to participate in a new effort to improve the quality -- and equality -- of cardiac care delivered in hospitals. The Aligning Forces for Quality: Equity Quality Improvement Collaborative (Equity QI Collaborative) will identify and test ways for hospitals to improve the quality and efficiency of their cardiac care, while also identifying and reducing any racial and ethnic disparities.

The Equity QI Collaborative is part of Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q), the Foundation's signature program to lift the overall quality of health care in targeted communities, reduce racial and ethnic disparities, and provide models for real reform. Minnesota was selected by RWJF as one of 15 communities nationwide to serve as "learning laboratories" for improving the quality of care being delivered in a given region. MN Community Measurement coordinates local efforts for the program.

"In every region involved in the Aligning Forces for Quality initiative, including Minnesota, broad-based teams of people who get, give and pay for care are working together to improve health care quality," said Jim Chase, president of MN Community Measurement. "By aligning people from across the community who might not typically work together, we are helping to achieve a community-wide transformation of health care."

Although the quality of health care is poor for many Americans, research shows specific racial and ethnic groups continue to experience lower-quality health care when compared to white patients. The well-respected Institute of Medicine has shown that patients who are racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to receive lower-quality care than whites, particularly when treating heart disease and cancer.

"This effort is part of a broader commitment at HealthPartners and Regions Hospital to reduce health disparities and ensure that every patient receives the best care," said Brock Nelson, Regions Hospital president and CEO.