Ahead of the Curve - A publication of TMF Health Quality Institute
Volume 13, Quarter 2, 2014
In This Issue
Two Weeks Left to Apply for the 2013-2014 Texas Physician Practice Quality Improvement Award

Texas Physician Practice Quality Improvement Award

Texas physician practices continue to make great strides in providing reliable preventive services by utilizing health information technology and effective care management methods. TMF Health Quality Institute, Texas Medical Association and Texas Osteopathic Medical Association think these practices should be recognized for their hard work, and have partnered again to provide the Texas Physician Practice Quality Improvement Award program.

Review the criteria, download the application checklist and submit your online application today for a 2013 - 2014 Texas Physician Practice Quality Improvement Award. Practices have until Friday, June 13, 2014, to apply. Learn more about the award program and apply

Award-winning practices will receive commemorative items to display and will be recognized through a statewide media release. Announcements will also be made at meetings and in journals by the Texas Medical Association and the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association. If you have questions, email or call Suzie Daly at [email protected], 512-964-5988.
Texas Hospital Quality Improvement Award Winners

TMF has announced the winners of the 2012-2013 Texas Hospital Quality Improvement Awards. Winners will be recognized via a statewide media campaign and at an evening ceremony held Wednesday, June 11, 2014, at the Hilton Austin Airport Hotel.

The award is sponsored by TMF in association with the Texas Hospital Association and Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals. It recognizes Texas hospitals that have undertaken quality initiatives to improve outcomes in patient care and improve their performance on specific national quality measures. This program was established in 2004 as a non-competitive program designed to recognize exemplary outcomes achieved by hospitals statewide. The award program recognizes three tiers of winners for their performance on specific outcomes measures. The three tiers are Gold, Silver and Bronze.

"TMF is proud to recognize these hospitals for promoting quality improvement activities and their senior management for promoting a quality culture," said Tom Manley, president and CEO of TMF Health Quality Institute. "Quality improvement is a complex and demanding process, and we thank these hospitals for their commitment to improving the health of Texans and the efficiency of health care in our state."

You may view a list of winners online at http://award.tmf.org. Additional information about the program may be found at http://award.tmf.org.
Annual Membership Meeting

The annual meeting of the TMF membership has been scheduled for July 26, 2014, at 10 a.m. at the TMF Offices, Building I, Suite 300, 5918 West Courtyard Dr., Austin.

At this meeting, TMF members will elect individuals to serve on the board of trustees, vote on proposed amendments to the TMF bylaws and vote on any other matters that may be brought before the membership. Members will soon be receiving additional information, including a proxy form, in the mail. In addition, if members are unable to attend the meeting, they may complete the proxy online at http://tmf.org/Membership/ProxySubmission. Members are asked to return the proxy form to TMF or complete the online version before July 24, 2014.
Recognizing One of TMF's Top DSME Instructors

TMF is proud that its Health for Life initiative has been the catalyst for more than 15,000 persons receiving life-saving and life-changing diabetes education instruction. However, TMF is even more proud of the dedicated individuals teaching the Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) classes, primarily in underserved communities across Texas.

We want to recognize one of those instructors, Michael Ross, who is among those who have initiated the highest number of DSME classes in the state. Mr. Ross runs Leading, Mentoring and Bridging Services Specialty Organization, which offers free DSME classes at churches, senior citizen centers and through some government organizations.

Mr. Ross' interest in health care grew gradually. It began when, after 13 years as a combat engineer and during Desert Storm in 1991, he was injured and became disabled. Beyond the need for immediate medical attention, he saw the need for continued medical care for people with amputations and diseases. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood, he also reflected on the disparities in medical care within his neighborhood. Then, one of his closest friends lost a leg to complications from diabetes and later died from the disease. That was the turning point. He decided to be trained as a diabetes instructor.

Mr. Ross' first step was to participate in TMF webinars about diabetes education, where he learned about the Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP) training opportunity. He became a trained instructor. He said the TMF webinars also taught him how to run a successful program and introduced him to the opportunity to be a TMF subcontractor for DSME classes.

"As a DEEP-trained instructor, I realized that people with diabetes were not getting enough information on how to live with this disease," he said. "For example, some people with diabetes don't have glucose meters and others don't have enough information to manage their diabetes. I felt that I could make a small difference using my managerial background from the Army to form a team to teach as many people about diabetes as possible. Something inside of me just said 'do it'."

Mr. Ross has been a subcontractor for TMF for a year and a half and has conducted 45 classes and trained more than 600 people with diabetes how to live better lives with this chronic disease. He has been able to mobilize partners and educators within a short timeframe and has learned valuable lessons in community engagement. His active engagement, passion and commitment to delivering DSME classes has prompted senior citizen centers, churches and other state and local organizations to open their doors to the classes.
TMF Health Quality Institute
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