Monday, December 02, 2013
On September 19-20, more than 80 physicians, nurses, public health officials, care providers and more convened in Dallas, Texas, for Aligning Forces for Quality’s population health event, ti ...
[more] Monday, December 02, 2013
It’s a pivotal time in our country’s history, as our health care system begins a massive reconstruction. No matter where you land when political lines are drawn, you can’t turn on your compu ...
[more] Monday, December 02, 2013
As a child, Mike Chilcoat’s parents gave him the same instructions that many parents do: You can address adults by their first names, except dentists and doctors. They command formal titles. ...
[more] Monday, December 02, 2013
When assisting a patient through a care transition, does an inpatient nurse really understand what a skilled nursing facility offers, how a health coach could help or why the Community Care- ...
[more] Thursday, October 31, 2013
Join Aligning Forces for Quality – South Central PA (AF4Q-SCPA), Family First Health, Hamilton Health Center and Keystone Health for the one-day, community-wide film screening of ESCAPE FIRE: ...
[more] Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Nursing plays a crucial role in identifying and connecting the needs of patients along the continuum of care. Uncoordinated care and miscommunication lead to poor patient outcomes. This risk incre ...
[more] Tuesday, August 27, 2013
At just 16 years old, Samantha Obeck got her first taste of medicine as a nursing assistant at a long-term care facility. “Initially, I didn’t want to be a nurse. I thought I would try it fo ...
[more] Tuesday, August 27, 2013
With a name like “Dr. Hot Spot,” anticipation and excitement greeted Jeffrey Brenner, M.D. at Aligning Forces for Quality – South Central PA’s High Utilizer Collaborative kickoff event on Ma ...
[more] Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Imagine, it’s 1 a.m. and your normally bright-eyed, giggling, four-year-old son slowly trudges into your room. Instead of greeting you with laughter, a runny nose and persistent cough plagu ...
[more] Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Do developed countries have an ethical obligation to provide access to health care for everyone? Many would say yes, but how do we pay for it, keep patients healthier and still lower the cos ...
[more] Friday, June 07, 2013
Join the Summer Movement- Read T.R. Reid's "The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care"
Aligning Forces for Quality - South ...
[more] Thursday, May 30, 2013
From May 8-10, 10 health care leaders from south central Pennsylvania attended Aligning Forces for Quality's national meeting in Chicago. Attendees were spurred to action by keynote speakers inclu ...
[more] Wednesday, May 29, 2013
When Janet Cutsail began her career more than 30 years ago, she knew she would always want to be part of the hospital setting.
"The acute-care setting is exciting," she said. "I've always ...
[more] Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Aligning Forces for Quality - South Central PA (AF4Q-SCPA) is excited to announce it's been awarded a grant of $1 million over the next two years for the final phase of the Robert Wood Johnson Fou ...
[more] Wednesday, May 29, 2013
For those outside of the medical field, acronyms and medical terminology such as Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH) might sound confusing, but the truth is, tackling these processes and ach ...
[more] Wednesday, May 29, 2013
"We train physicians to act as cowboys. You can ride into town and shoot people. You are the man," said Marci Nielsen, Ph.D., MPH, chief executive officer of the Patient-Centered Primary Care ...
[more] Wednesday, May 29, 2013
In mid-January, Aligning Forces for Quality – South Central PA (AF4Q-SCPA) launched a new session of the I Can! Challenge. The 12-week program works to educate people with chronic conditions o ...
[more] Wednesday, March 13, 2013
"It was 9:45 on the evening of Tuesday, April 26, 2011, when the phone rang in our home in suburban Philadelphia," said Beth Ann Swan, PhD, guest speaker at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Care Ab ...
[more] Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Meet Glenn. He is 57 years old and has a history of chronic blood clots in his legs that he now treats with a blood thinner. Glenn also has Crohn's Disease, an inflammatory colon mass; hypothyroid ...
[more] Wednesday, March 13, 2013
When WellSpan Grants Officer Nancy Newton dives into a grant narrative, she arms herself with a latte from the Green Bean coffee shop. Pair that latte with the motivation she garners from her ...
[more] Friday, January 18, 2013
Everyone loves a good story. Some stories are crafted to keep you perched on your seat's edge. Others tug at the emotional strings of your heart. And some motivate for action. No matter a person's ...
[more] Thursday, January 17, 2013
Kathy Hutcheson first began working with Aligning Forces for Quality – South Central PA (AF4Q-SCPA) in June 2011 as a contractor focusing on the recently launched Patient Partner Program.
"The ...
[more] Thursday, January 17, 2013
"You know, it’s kind of scary when someone says this is going to be the rest of your life – I even started thinking, will I be able to walk fast?"
As Gettysburg Hospital patient Anna Shafer kno ...
[more] Thursday, January 17, 2013
Difficult conversations are just that – difficult. Motivating people to change their routines or alter actions can be challenging, but with change comes innovation and valuable improvement. In hea ...
[more] Wednesday, November 07, 2012
October was a busy and exciting month for Aligning Forces for Quality – South Central PA (AF4Q-SCPA)!
As you may know, October was Health Literacy Month, and one great opportunity for improve ...
[more] Monday, November 05, 2012
On October 22 and 23, more than 60 participants from Aligning Forces for Quality alliances across the country convened in Chicago for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Payment Summit, titl ...
[more] Monday, November 05, 2012
Beginning in 2009, Gettysburg Hospital joined 17 hospital teams from Aligning Forces for Quality on their mission of Transforming Care at the Bedside, also known as TCAB. This July, they celebrat ...
[more] Monday, November 05, 2012
As the executive director of Healthy York Network, every day, Eve Gardner sees members of our community who are struggling to access the health care they need for themselves and their families.
...
[more] Monday, November 05, 2012
"Get engaged. Get it in gear. Do everything you can." On September 6, nationally recognized speaker Dave deBronkart, known on the internet as "e-Patient Dave," challenged attendees with these wor ...
[more] Monday, September 17, 2012
York, Pa. – More than 100 local health care leaders and stakeholders united to discuss how to increase patient engagement and improve quality care at Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) – Sou ...
[more] Thursday, August 30, 2012
What: Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) – South Central PA, a collaboration of York and Adams County health care leaders and stakeholders, will share results of its new Patient Partner Pro ...
[more] Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Thirty-four percent of York County residents, and 40% of Adams County residents have high blood pressure, according to the 2012 York and Adams County Community Health Needs Assessment.
While t ...
[more] Tuesday, August 14, 2012
A Letter from the Project Director, Chris Amy
Dear Readers, In the wake of the Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), many opinions have been shared across America. ...
[more] Tuesday, August 14, 2012
For more than 20 years, Robin Rohrbaugh has worked in the heart of the social service world, and for the past eight years, she’s been serving the community through her role as Executive Dire ...
[more] Saturday, June 16, 2012
For some, determining what you want to do for the rest of your life can be challenging, or perhaps even scary. But, for Dr. Neal Friedman, MD of WellSpan Health, he figured it out early on i ...
[more] Saturday, June 16, 2012
Aligning Forces for Quality – South Central PA has a lot to celebrate. Every day leaders of the alliance are working hard to fulfill the mission, and the hard work is paying off. The results are ...
[more] Saturday, June 16, 2012
At Aspers Health Center, seven of eight diabetes process measures were improved in the practice.
At WellSpan Endocrinology - Gettysburg, the number of monofilaments given to patients inc ...
[more] Saturday, June 16, 2012
After completing the Planned Care Collaborative, what’s next for the primary care practices? According to Rush Gross, Planned Care Collaborative Coordinator, there needs to be a structured way to ...
[more] Friday, April 20, 2012
Quality Insights of Pennsylvania is Pennsylvania's Medicare Quality Improvement Organization. According to Kimberly Cahill RN, BSN Project Coordinator of Integrated Care for Populations and Commun ...
[more] Friday, April 20, 2012
With an overriding push across the nation for hospitals, practices and nursing facilities to take a deeper look into transitions of care, Aligning Forces for Quality – South Central PA and H ...
[more] Friday, April 20, 2012
According to a report from the National Transitions of Care Coalition, medication errors harm an estimated 1.5 million people each year in the United States, costing the nation at least $3.5 billi ...
[more] Friday, April 20, 2012
A leader for the aging population, Dianna Benaknin, Director of the York County Area Agency on Aging (YCAAA), said, “Today, people are living longer, but the number of people with chronic co ...
[more] Thursday, April 12, 2012
On March 29, 2012, Aligning Forces for Quality – South Central PA held a luncheon with various representatives from area hospitals, emergency medicine, skilled nursing facilities and palliative ca ...
[more] Monday, March 26, 2012
Through the generosity of Merck, Aligning Forces for Quality - South Central PA and Highmark sponsored a panel discussion on March 22, 2012 to discuss skilled nursing facilities and hospital trans ...
[more] Wednesday, February 22, 2012
AF4Q – South Central PA is featured in the “Regional Health Improvement Collaboratives: Essential Elements for Successful Healthcare Reform” report produced by the Jewish Healthcare Foundation. Th ...
[more] Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Take a few minutes to listen toChristine Amy, Project Director of AF4Q – South Central PA talk about what AF4Q is doing locally to improve primary care as a means to reduce hospital readmissions a ...
[more] Tuesday, February 21, 2012
AF4Q – South Central PA is excited to announce our new tool to help you, physicians, employers and patients improve their health! Regardless of your role - patient, health care provider, employer, ...
[more] Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Currently, our health care system is set up as a fee-for-service model, so doctors, hospitals and other health care providers are reimbursed based on the number of visits and procedu ...
[more] Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Improving patient care and patient safety is something AF4Q – South Central PA strives for day in and day out through its initiatives. But, it’s also at the top of Donna Balsley’s li ...
[more] Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Have you visited the Community Checkup lately? On our new website, the Community Checkup still offers the ability to determine how well patients and providers are working together to improve care. ...
[more] Monday, December 19, 2011
Everyone who gets care, gives care or pays for care must work to improve the quality of care in Adams and York counties, right? Work with us by staying connected with AF4Q! You have options for st ...
[more] Friday, December 16, 2011
A Message from Chris Amy, Project Director
In November, all 16 of the AF4Q communities came together in Washington, D.C. to get energized about what’s happening, and wha ...
[more] Friday, December 16, 2011
As we gear up for holiday extravaganzas, we wanted to make sure you have an idea of what’s to come when you return in 2012! AF4Q – South Central PA has had a very successful year, and is looking f ...
[more] Friday, December 16, 2011
While Robert J. Woods (aka Bob Woods) isn’t originally from York, Pa., he and the organization that he leads have certainly made an impact on the lives of many in this area. A former Michigan resi ...
[more] Friday, December 16, 2011
“Health insurance costs are out the door, and we need to do more to control the costs,” stated Wendy Ebersole, Human Resources Director for Kinsley Construction. This is one of the reasons why Wen ...
[more] Tuesday, November 22, 2011
“Health insurance costs are out the door, and we need to do more to control the costs,” stated Wendy Ebersole, Human Resources Director for Kinsley Construction. This is one of the reasons why Wen ...
[more] Monday, October 03, 2011
(York, Pa.) – While the release of the new Dartmouth Atlas Project report shows little progress in reducing readmissions within the nation's hospitals, South Central PA's percentages are loo ...
[more] Monday, October 03, 2011
We want patients to be engaged. We want patients to improve their health. We want better quality care for patients. What else can we do to get there? Why not ask the patients what they think, and ...
[more] Monday, October 03, 2011
“In my opinion, finding balance between high quality care and low cost care is probably one of the biggest health care challenges,” stated Kristin Thomas, Director of Clinical Quality Care a ...
[more] Monday, October 03, 2011
“I became more involved in my own personal care. I finally called the doctor about a problem that’s been going on for a while, and insisted on more care for my foot. Now, I’m going to have surgery ...
[more] Monday, October 03, 2011
On September 15, 2011 Dr. Karen Jones asked the attendees of AF4Q – South Central PA’s Annual Meeting, “How can we improve value?” She explained that managing one’s health care is like buying a t- ...
[more] Monday, October 03, 2011During the month of September, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, TV’s Dr. Mehmet Oz and dozens of national organizations worked together on Care Abo ...
[more] Monday, July 18, 2011
The second round of the I Can! Challenge is coming to an end in August. So, we touched base with the current Challengers at their half-way point to learn what they really think about the Challenge ...
[more] Monday, July 18, 2011
Dr. Oz, host of
The Dr. Oz Show
and vice-chair and professor of Surgery at Columbia University ...
[more] Monday, July 18, 2011
In late June, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation launched a new online directory to find reliable information on the c ...
[more] Monday, July 18, 2011
Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Facilities Help Determine Steps for Reducing Readmissions
...
[more] Monday, July 18, 2011
Aligning Forces for Quality – South Central PA started in 2007, and Matt Vogel, vice president of Provider Relations and Contracting for Highmark Blue Shield has been a witness of th ...
[more] Thursday, May 19, 2011
In the January/February edition of Quality 4orum, AF4Q – South Central PA highlighted the progress of the practices involved with the initiative, Planned Care Collaborative.This month, we’re pleas ...
[more] Thursday, May 19, 2011
Submitted by:Ian Bennett MD PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Depression is a common disorder among women in pregnancy and in the year following childbirth. Perinatal depression include ...
[more] Thursday, May 19, 2011
That’s according to Harold D. Miller, who was the featured speaker on April 20 at AF4Q – South Central PA’s Physician Clinician Learning Networkdinner meeting.Mr. Miller is the President and CEO o ...
[more] Thursday, May 19, 2011
Most of us have heard the expression, “She wears many hats.” This expression definitely fits AF4Q – South Central PA Leader and Executive Director of the York County Literacy Council, Bobbi Cavana ...
[more] Thursday, May 19, 2011
AF4Q – South Central PA is excited to announce that the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation designated $1.3 million to the organization to continue its efforts of lifting quality care in York and Adams ...
[more] Monday, May 09, 2011
Harold D. Miller was the featured speaker atAF4Q – South Central PA’s Physician Clinician Learning Network dinner meeting on April 20.Mr. Miller is the President and CEO of the Network for Regiona ...
[more] Thursday, May 05, 2011
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation selects Aligning Forces for Quality – South Central Pennsylvania to continue participation in national quality improvement initiative
York, Pa. (May 5, 2011 ...
[more] Monday, April 11, 2011
You’re Invited!
"Making Health Reform Work: How Local Leadership Can Control Costs & Improve Quality!"
Aligning Forces For Quality – South Central Pennsylvania (AF4Q SCPA)’ ...
[more] Friday, April 01, 2011
(York, Pa.) – Aligning Forces for Quality – South Central PA is already ahead of the game with working to improve the health of Adams & York Counties. The organization's mission is to br ...
[more] Friday, March 18, 2011
The first round of the 2011 I Can! Challenge is at its halfway point, and the response from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Old habits are being broken, new habits are being f ...
[more] Friday, March 18, 2011
“We have to take this next step. We have to do this because it will improve our care, and reduce the waste,” stated Kris OShea, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care for G ...
[more] Friday, March 18, 2011
Wondering
how the health care quality in our area compares to other states? Curious to know the results of our Community Snapshot, or how Teach Back is working for local practices? You ...
[more] Friday, March 18, 2011
Last month, AF4Q – South Central PA shared the findings from the Community Snapshot: Reducing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. Local practices and hospitals partnered to make an ...
[more] Friday, March 18, 2011
Often patients think they understand how to take their medication, but the fact is about 50% of patients fail to take medications correctly. This is why Aligning Forces for Quality – South C ...
[more] Friday, January 21, 2011
As highlighted in our last edition of Quality 4orum, AF4Q – South Central PA is reaching out to health care systems to alleviate race, language and ethnic disparities for patients. ...
[more] Friday, January 21, 2011
Every day, doctors, nurses, receptionists – everyone in the medical practices are trying to meet the high demand of patients, while providing good quality care. But sometimes care is ...
[more] Friday, January 21, 2011
Now that we’re in the New Year, the I Can! Challenge is right around the corner! On February 8 and 10, Aligning Forces for Quality – South Central PA’s Project Director, Chris Amy, a ...
[more] Friday, January 21, 2011
Did you know that one in two Americans can’t read above a 5th grade level, yet most health care materials are written above the 10th grade level?1 According to the U.S. Department of ...
[more] Wednesday, January 12, 2011
(York, Pa.) – Have heart disease or diabetes? Here’s an opportunity that may improve your health. With nearly 200,000 people in York and Adams Counties living w ...
[more] Tuesday, November 23, 2010
With the release of the new diabetes data, it is an opportunity to remind doctors that they can use this data to learn from each other, do comparisons against other practices, and ultimately see h ...
[more] Tuesday, November 23, 2010
As we gear up for the holiday bustle and prepare to celebrate a new year, Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) South Central PA is getting ready to launch the 2011 I Can! Challenge! Starting the fir ...
[more] Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Thomas Jefferson stated in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal,” but in early 21st century America, not all people are treated equally in terms of health care. “In 20 ...
[more] Tuesday, November 23, 2010
In 2005, cardiovascular disease cost Pennsylvania an estimated $15.7 billion including health care and productivity. In 2007, diabetes accounted for 15 million work days absent in the United State ...
[more] Tuesday, November 23, 2010
More than 34,700 adults in Adams and York counties are diagnosed with diabetes. Yet patients with diabetes receive only 45 percent of their recommended care – less than half of the safe, effective ...
[more] Friday, November 05, 2010
...
[more] Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Aligning Forces for Quality hosted an educational summit, Wellness Incorporated, on September 14. More than 130 people attended the event at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in York. The summ ...
[more] Friday, March 12, 2010York, PA (February 24, 2010) – The I Can! Challenge campaign was recently recognized as a finalist for the 11th annual Nonprofit Innovation Awards. The campaign is a program of Aligning Forces for Qu ...
[more] Sunday, February 21, 2010
Statement by Christine Amy, Project DirectorAligning Forces for Quality – South Central Pennsylvania
Where w ...
[more] Tuesday, January 26, 2010
12-week program offers activities and tips to improve your health
These five communit ...
[more] Thursday, October 08, 2009
Updated: 09/25/2009 11:04:56 AM EDT
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[more] Saturday, September 26, 2009
More than 65 individuals (employers, community organizations, physicians, nurses and consumers) gathered at the Holidome on Wednesday, Sept. 2 for an update from Aligning Forces for Quality South ...
[more] Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Daily Record/Sunday News staff editorial
Updated: 09/18/2009 12:30:30 AM EDT
...
[more] Friday, September 11, 2009
KATHY STEVENS The York Dispatch
Updated: 09/09/2009 10:49:02 AM EDT
...
[more] Tuesday, August 04, 2009
News- Regional & State News
Written by Melanie Herschorn
Wednesday, 29 July 2009 04:45
(York) -- A new website that's unique to the commonwealth provides d ...
[more] Tuesday, August 04, 2009
The project director said the goal is to better inform health care consumers.
By TOM JOYCE Daily Record/Sunday News
Updated: 07/23/2009 11:20:05 PM EDT
...
[more] Friday, June 05, 2009
These two counties are stepping up and saying “I Can!”
(York, Pa.) – What’s all of the hype about? A major health movement is about to sweep through the communities of York and Adams ...
[more] Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Gettysburg Hospital and York Hospital have been selected by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to participate in a new effort to improve the quality of care in hospitals. The program will h ...
[more] Friday, June 06, 2008
by DAVID WENNER, Of The Patriot-News Thursday June 05, 2008, 12:00 AM
York and Adams counties are among 14 U.S. communities selected to be part of a health care quality improvement effort that ...
[more] Friday, June 06, 2008
Friday, June 06, 2008 BY DAVID WENNER Of The Patriot-News
Residents of York and Adams counties might soon notice big changes when they visit their family doctors, and it could be a glimpse of ...
[more] Friday, June 06, 2008
CHRISTINA KAUFFMAN The York DispatchArticle Last Updated: 06/06/2008 10:47:27 AM EDT
The Healthy York County Coalition is one of 14 community health programs nationwide selected for a grant to ...
[more] Tuesday, May 27, 2008
A recent survey of patients gave WellSpan and other local providers a glimpse into the challenges experienced by individuals with chronic illnesses.
The survey, which is part of the Aligning F ...
[more]
