Minnesota Healthcare      Quality Professionals

BETWEEN THE LINES: Message From the President – Winter 2005 By Carol Barnhart Return to Newsletters Table of Contents   As we move from fall into winter, the MHQP Board has been working hard to make sure that the society’s infrastructure is in place. The Bylaws have been revised and will be presented to the membership at the annual meeting in June, 2005. We are currently reviewing and improving our financial tracking systems to make it easier and more official to track expenses and revenue. Our membership list has been verified and updated. A new focus is to revitalize our website, www.MHQP.com. After scanning the websites of other state quality associations and determining the criteria we wanted to include, every page of the site has been updated or changed. The changes are worth noting so please go check it out. Our educational sessions and newsletter are coming out to members via email and the web on a regular basis. We have a wonderful educational session coming up on February 10, 2005 on diabetes care (with a twist) so be sure to put it on your calendar. If you have ideas about topics you’d like to hear about, let me know and we will find a speaker. September 18 – 21st was the NAHQ annual meeting which was held in Orlando, FL this year in between hurricanes. We were watching hurricane Jeanne the entire time, hoping it would wait until we left. It did! There were many inspiring and useful topics covered at the meeting. 15 Minnesota members attended and on Sunday night we all gathered for a get together beside the pool to do introductions and share work stories. Your president (myself), past president (Beth Green), and one other at-large representative (Jennie Rodlund) attended the Leadership Council. The Leadership Council receives the annual reports of the NAHQ Board along with updates on plans for the following year. The Healthcare Quality Certification Board reported that 363 candidates for CPHQ certification were tested in January – July 2004. One change to the current rules for recertification is that starting with those recertifying in December 31, 2004 there will not be a grace period. Recertification applications with documentation must be received by the deadline. Susan McKevitt from Minnesota chairs the HQCB. The Healthcare Quality Foundation reported that more than $11,000 was raised throughout the last year. This year they held a Silent Auction at the annual meeting with each state contributing a basket of goodies representing their state. I am happy to say that our Minnesota basket was well received and the money raised will go towards funding four grants in 2004: two in New Quality Professional Grants (one recipient was Jennie Rodlund from Minnesota!) and two Career development Grants. In addition to all the other activities, the exhibits were extensive and relevant. Many had practical handouts and CDs for the asking. Minnesota attendees also conducted Poster Sessions. I felt that the Minnesota contingent was very active at this meeting and contributed to the overall success of the event. Thank you to all who attended and remain active! During 2005, the Board will complete the projects started and begin planning the MHQP annual meeting. It is vital that members attend to vote on the candidates for the next Board and the Bylaws changes. Notification will go out via email so please keep us current with your email address. Finally, I wish all of you a wonderful holiday season and a pat on the back for a job well done in 2004!   It is important that all members of MHQP know you are invited to attend Board Meetings. If you have questions, feel free to contact the Board Members. Quality Line and Between the Lines are designed to provide members information on vital issues in Minnesota healthcare, trends, CQI methodologies, legislation and news about our organization. Published quarterly in Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. Editor: Patricia Beilke Beilke.Patricia@mayo.edu