MSVF holds successful IMPACT opening session

October 2011

The Medical Society of Virginia Foundation held its TO GOAL Improving Asthma Care and Treatment™ (IMPACT) primary care opening session on Sept. 10 in Williamsburg. The session was led by Helen Ragazzi, M.D.; Kurt Elward, M.D., M.P.H; Hedley Sipe, F.N.P., AE-C; Steve Horan, Ph.D.; and Ashley Cunningham. The session was well-attended by 36 participants from Sentara Pediatrics, Lakeview Medical Center, Virginia Commonwealth University and Bon Secours – Primary Health Care Associates.

During the session, attendees got an overview of IMPACT pediatrics, the goals of the program, challenges in achieving optimal care and benefits of improved quality of care for asthma. They learned more about health quality innovation and how to make necessary changes to achieve goals.

Dr. Horan led a health quality innovation training session where they learned about the health quality innovation model, a continuous process of team development, testing and spreading improvement. He went over how teams can develop and change in order to achieve health quality improvement. Physicians and health care workers are able to use this model to guide the daily practice of health quality innovation.