For Immediate Release:
January 28, 2021

NHPCO Launches Innovative Quality Connections Program
for Hospice and Palliative Care Providers

A new, national program designed to support the delivery of high-quality care 

(Alexandria, Va) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is proud to launch Quality Connections (QC), a new program designed to enhance the knowledge base, skills, and competency of hospice and palliative care professionals and providers. Through education, tools, resources, and opportunities for engagement and interaction, QC participants will achieve and sustain continuous quality improvement.

QC is a benefit of NHPCO provider membership. For organizations that already have an established quality improvement program, Quality Connections can build on and streamline what they already have in place. If a provider needs to enrich their quality improvement efforts, Quality Connections will provide the guidance and resources they need.

“NHPCO’s Quality Connections provides a framework for providers’ quality assessment and performance improvement activities, to ensure high quality care to the people who need us,” said Lori Bishop, NHPCO Vice President of Palliative and Advanced Care. “NHPCO is committed to helping our members provide the best care possible to patients and their loved ones. Continuous quality improvement is key.”

QC is structured around four fundamental pillars which are represented by four QC rings:

      • Education
      • Application
      • Measurement
      • Innovation

Each pillar has specific activities incorporating practical resources to progressively track and improve both clinical and organizational quality. Activities such as quarterly data reporting and benchmarking, NHPCO’s E-Online courses, peer case studies, and engagement will be part of an organization’s quality journey. Additionally, within each of the four pillars of the Quality Connections program, members will find activities that are focused on promoting diversity, access and inclusion within your organization and with the communities you serve.

“A provider active in NHPCO’s Quality Connections will gain an edge with partners and payers by demonstrating their commitment to high quality care and receiving national recognition from NHPCO,” said NHPCO President and CEO Edo Banach. “And by sharing best practices with each other and promoting equity in access to care, participating organizations will lift up the entire field, making health care better for patients and families across the country.”

Download the Quality Connections FAQ for answers to some basic questions about the program.

NHPCO provider members can enroll in QC on the NHPCO website. Follow the steps in the Quality Connections User Guide to enroll in the program and to start your quality improvement journey.

“We’ve made the right thing to do, the easy thing to do,” added Banach.

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Contact:
Jon Radulovic
NHPCO Communications
Direct: 517-412-3973