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ASQ Submits Comments on Federal Healthcare IT Proposal

June 11, 2009 — Don’t throw money into information technology in healthcare organizations that aren’t properly prepared to utilize it fully. Take advantage of proven process improvement tools and quality methodologies that make implementation go smoother and quicker.

Those are some main points in comments from ASQ on a proposal to establish a national network of regional health information technology extension centers (RHITEC) that would assist health care providers in their efforts to adopt new information technologies. Funding for the extension centers would come from $2 billion made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for the adoption and meaningful use of certified electronic health record technology. ASQ believes that quality principles can ensure the money is wisely spent.

In a letter (PDF, 51 KB) to the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, ASQ President Roberto Saco said, “We at ASQ applaud this important effort and are writing to offer some modest suggestions for enhancing its success.” Saco’s letter also provided section-by-section comments (PDF, 121 KB) on the proposed extension centers.

Those suggestions and advice include:

  • Technologies alone cannot bring about the desired results;
  • Creating fertile ground in which the seeds of health IT can flourish is the first step in the successful introduction of healthcare information technologies;
  • Understanding and preparing the environment for health IT involves helping people to embrace change through adopting new cultures of quality, continuous improvement, patient-centeredness, and patient safety;
  • The proven and validated tools, philosophies, and methodologies of quality management, change management, and process improvement can be of immense help in the work of the RHITEC Program;
  • ASQ and its members have effectively used these methods for decades and stand ready to assist the Office of the National Coordinator to incorporate them successfully into the work of RHITEC.

The outgoing chair (Dr. James Levett), the incoming chair (Dr. Dave Eitel) and the chair-elect (Dr. Joe Fortuna) of the ASQ Healthcare Division drafted the commentary, with input from their leadership council.

The comments demonstrate that “ASQ stands as a valued partner for those struggling to control runaway health care costs, deploy useful technologies, make health care safer, and improve accessibility to high quality, cost-efficient care,” according to Dr. Levett.