An integral part of our department’s quality and safety plan is the Quality Assurance (QA) committee chaired by Dr. Richard Cohen and Dr. Henry Murray with oversight by Dr. Jennifer I. Lee, our department’s vice chair for quality and safety. Our QA structure is comprised of two subcommittees which meet monthly to review adverse patient safety events, near-misses, complaints and/or lawsuits pertaining to care received while in the hospital. After committee discussion, determination is made as to whether the standards of care were met and whether process improvement measures are indicated to minimize or eliminate healthcare errors and improve quality of care. Recommendations for quality and process improvement measures are reviewed and discussed by the vice chair with the Department Chair and relevant Division Chief(s) to focus on interventions internally and in collaboration with the college and the hospital. Proceedings from these meetings are also shared the leadership of NYP’s Department of Quality and Safety.
A critical function served by the committee is the unique interdivisional forum it provides for the various clinical and interventional practices to meet together and review clinical challenges, complications and barriers. Many of these issues are common across the practices and there is much to learn from one another. The success of the QA process depends on the robust participation of the members who are peer-nominated representatives from the divisions within the Weill Department of Medicine.
