Commission to host forums on quality improvement

15 September 2011

Health Quality & Safety Commission to host forums on quality improvement

The Health Quality & Safety Commission is inviting clinicians, health leaders and consumer groups to the first of its quality forums in Auckland and Christchurch next month.

The forums will focus on ways to improve consumer participation and engagement with health and disability services.

Acting Chief Executive Karen Orsborn says consumer involvement is an important part of improving the quality of services.

“People who use health and disability services know what’s working well and what isn't,” she says. “Using the experience of people who use services is a valuable way of identifying what needs improvement.

“These forums are about tapping into the expertise of people already being innovative in the health sector, whether they’re clinicians, health managers or consumers.”

The two forums are called Improving together: consumers, clinicians & services. The first forum will be held in Auckland on Tuesday 4 October, and the second in Christchurch on Thursday 6 October. More details, including how to register, are available on the Health Quality & Safety Commission’s website, www.hqsc.govt.nz.

Beverley Johnson from the Institute of Patient and Family Centered Care in the United States will be the keynote speaker at both events. She has extensive experience of working with hospitals and health organisations to improve consumer participation in health.

Forum topics include:

• How to engage with consumers

• Developing and using patient stories for improvement

• Creating a family engagement strategy.

“We’re looking at providing ideas and practical tools to help people think about these issues and make changes in how consumers and families work with providers,” says Ms Orsborn.

ENDS

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