Statewide Resource for Quality Improvement and Measurement

VPQ serves as the principle statewide resource for expertise, leadership and technical assistance in healthcare quality improvement and measurement in the state.

We provide independent expertise in quality improvement and quality measurement science to hospitals, practitioners, the public sector and consumers, and provide technical assistance to many local and statewide quality projects. Entities for whom we assist with administrative support or participate in workgroups include:

Vermont Cardiac Network
ExCEL Steering Committee (Excellent Care at End of Life)
AHEC (Area Health Education Centers) Statewide Advisory Board
Blueprint Executive Advisory Committee and various Blueprint Workgroups
VITL (Vermont Information Technology Leaders) Board
Center for Information Therapy Alliance
VICPA (Vermont Infection Control Practitioners Association)
VRHA ( Vermont Rural Health Alliance)
VTADE (Vermont Association of Diabetes Educators)
Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities, and Health Care Administration (BISHCA)

Examples of activities for which we provide clinical and/or analytic expertise include:

Educational Curriculum and Presentations
VPQ provides educational presentations related to healthcare quality improvement and the use, design and limitation of various analyses and availability of data as requested. Principal audiences for these presentations include the Legislature and the Public Oversight Commission. VPQ also offers technical assistance to the State in its CON (Certificate of Need) regulatory program.

Hospital Report Card
VPQ provides significant technical assistance to the State for this project. The Vermont Hospital Report Card is the reporting mechanism for the State’s public reporting mandate. In addition to general technical assistance and participation in various committees, specific activities include data collection, analysis, and report preparation related to the public reporting of healthcare associated infections, nurse staffing ratios, and AHRQ Quality Indicators.

Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI) Prevention
VPQ will partner with the State for this project providing technical assistance and administrative support, along with clinical and analytic expertise. This project is grant funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This project will develop a statewide plan for prevention of HAI, expand the detection and reporting of HAI, and conduct an HAI Prevention Collaborative.

Physician Peer Review Panel
VPQ provides professional and consultative advice to hospitals regarding safety, quality, credentialing and professional reappointment through the administration and support of the Vermont Physician Peer Review Panel. VPQ will provide administrative support as a peer review committee to others as needed.