Nashville Area Indian Health Service 2011 Annual Report

PRIORITY THREE: IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF AND ACCESS TO CARE.
Improving Patient Care Initiative
Under the leadership of the Nashville Area Director, the Nashville Area has
embraced the principles of the IHS Improving Patient Care (IPC) initiative.
Seven Nashville Area sites are participating in IPC-3, including two direct
programs and five Tribal programs. The Nashville Area Improvement Support
Team (NA‐IST), which is sponsored by the Area Director, has taken steps to
actively support these sites. Each site has three members of the NA-IST assigned
as advisors. The NA-IST held a strategic planning session in June 2011 to be
better prepared for the tracking and analysis of measures of Area sites. The
NA‐IST is one of the most organized and effective Improvement Support Teams
in all of the Areas, as evidenced by their presentations at national meetings and
requests for consultation by other improvement support teams.
Competent Workforce
Human Resource Specialists have conducted a thorough search in the Office
of Inspector General (OIG) exclusion list worksite on all new federal hires
and contractors prior to entry to duty in FY 2011. All employment and
background verification requirements are met and in compliance with the
pre-employment suitability requirements. Credentialing and privileging are
achieved through governing board oversight of the federal sites, with the
Area Director serving as the Chair of these boards. Tribal programs have
been encouraged to adopt credentialing and privileging policies as well.
Nashville Area IPC-3 participants at IPC-3 Learning Session 1 in Tucson, Arizona.
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