Richard Griffey, MD, MPH, FACEP
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine
Department of Emergency Medicine
After every Scientific Assembly, as we launch a new year for the section, it is helpful to look at what the QIPS section strives to achieve for its members and the college and to reflect on how we can build upon our accomplishments. The Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Section of ACEP (QIPS Section) is dedicated to engaging our membership in improving the safety and quality of patient care on a local and national level. In the current era of healthcare reform, with expansion of quality reporting, proposed cost-containment strategies and value-based purchasing, the ideas shared and work conducted within the QIPS section are increasingly timely, and vitally important to our specialty.
The QIPS section offers members invaluable opportunities including:
Networking &Collaboration– Participation in QIPS projects, papers, leadership calls, and the scientific assembly meetings, provides opportunities for like-minded individuals to meet and learn from others from across the US and in abroad.
Career Development and Mentorship- Involvement in the section helps foster ideas, encourages position development,and further professional growth. Our members who are regional and national leaders. Past section leadership traditionally remain active in mentoring, assisting and encouraging new member development.
Research &Knowledge Advancement– QIPS projects address issues of importance to the practice of emergency medicine, advancing the science of safety and the field of knowledge in providing quality care.
Advocacy – The section works to promote clinical, administrative and policy issues that will advance safety and quality in our field and for our patients.
We have a proud tradition of awards from the College for our service. Our newsletter have been awarded a number of section grants to pursue important topics in quality and safety, including handoffs, procedural safety, quality and safety officer standards, safety concerns in emergency department information systems and chief-complaint based quality measures.
In the past year we initiated a series of section-wide calls aimed at as many section members as possible in educational presentations, and to solicit ideas or input on collaborative projects. In the upcoming year we hope to expand upon efforts to discover and implement new, innovative ways to engage our section members. We are excited to involve as many members as possible in section activities, including the following:
- Continue development of an improved, searchable, content-rich QIPS website
- Addition of a resident section to our quarterly newsletters
- Filling our “toolbox” section of the website containing practical solutions and tools for various quality and safety issues that can be shared amongst members
- Continuation of the quarterly “all-section” conference calls to allow open discussion regarding topics of interest to members
- Application for a 2013 ACEP Section Grant (topic to be determined)
- Lay the foundations for a QIPS-centered research network for issues related to quality and safety
We ask for your continued input on how we can best accomplish our mission. Your feedback is important in guiding our future operations and activities. If you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to contact me at griffeyr@wustl.edu. We want to hear your thoughts and ideas!