The Connecticut Partnership for Patient Safety Forms Board

North Haven, Conn. (June 20, 2014) - The Connecticut Partnership for Patient Safety (CPPS) recently marked a major advancement by formally launching a Connecticut public-private partnership, creating its board and ratifying its bylaws.  Started informally five years ago as a group of concerned executives representing a wide range of extensive healthcare experience and leadership, CPPS has since grown to 18 individuals representing healthcare providers, consumers, insurers, advocacy, professional, research, state health, and quality improvement organizations. 

"CPPS is the realization of a concept long overdue," said President-elect Judith Kunisch, faculty member at the Yale School of Nursing and a member of the original organizing group. "The group's mission is to create a culture of patient safety across the healthcare continuum through a statewide collaboration that provides education and consultation.  We want to celebrate successes and shine a light on best practices across our state to encourage dramatic improvements sorely needed in protecting patients."

Taking lessons learned from the Massachusetts Coalition's successful patient safety model and commissioning studies from Quinnipiac University's School of Business/Department of Healthcare Management, CPPS is creating a solid foundation for growth.  "This group is different from others in that it is laser focused on patient protection and patient safety," said CPPS Interim President Tim Elwell, president and CEO of Qualidigm. "Using a non-punitive approach that shines a light on what works, CPPS aggressively supports the creation of a culture of trust that encourages transparency and honesty.  The group hopes to attract all healthcare stakeholders, including patients, to reduce patient harm caused by the State's healthcare delivery system, " said Elwell.  CPPS will concentrate on the continuum of care for all individuals seeking healthcare in Connecticut; collaborating with and enhancing the many patient safety/quality improvement initiatives already underway.

Initially sponsored by the Connecticut State Medical Society with additional funding from individual and member groups, CPPS is now transitioning to a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation to attract both grants and corporate donors to  build its organization.

The board members, representing experience from a wide variety of healthcare organizations, are as follows:

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