POPPY ARFORD … Brunswick resident recognized at Maine Quality Counts conference
The April conference, “Aligning Maine’s Forces to Become the First State to Achieve the Triple Aim,” reached record attendance with more than 800 health care providers, employers, and consumers, according to a news release.
The conference was highlighted by keynote speaker Dr. Don Ber- wick, a pediatrician, policymaker, and leading U.S. health care quality advocate. Berwick, former head of Medicare and Medicaid under the Obama administration and founding CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, said, “We must stop the bleeding. The country needs to focus on better public health, while improving patients’ experience with medical providers.”
QC 2013 also provided an opportunity to recognize outstanding Maine health care leaders through its “Quality Improvement Leadership Awards.” The awards recognize outstanding efforts of individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing health care quality in Maine.
The awardees included:
— Holly Gartmayer-DeYoung, CEO of Eastport Health Care, was recognized for spearheading a county-wide movement to bring together patients, providers from hospital and ambulatory practices, and law enforcement through “Community Circles,” an effort recognizing spiritual, whole person dimensions to care.
— Peter Wood, executive director and president of the MMC Physician-Hospital Organization, was recognized for his outstanding leadership in developing a system to promote improved care of individuals with chronic illness in primary care, and improving care transitions for patients through the hospital discharge processes.
— NovaHealth/Intermed, under the leadership of Thomas Claffey, Daniel McCormack, and Elizabeth Collet, was recognized for achieving significant improvements in access to care, consumer engagement, quality outcomes and lower cost in their Medicare Advantage population.
Brunswick’s own
— Poppy Arford of Brunswick was recognized with the “QC Patient and Family Leadership Award” for her unwavering commitment, passion and persistent consumer advocacy to transform health care in Maine and by bringing the patient voice to critical health care system development and improvement efforts.
— Dr. Erik Steele, chief medical officer and senior vice president at Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, received the first “Dirigo Award for Health Leadership” presented jointly by Maine Quality Counts, the Maine Health Access Foundation, and the Hanley Center for Health Leadership.
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