NAHQ leaders continue to speak with healthcare quality leaders and professionals all around the country about the importance of adopting our industry-standard healthcare quality competencies to reduce variability among the workforce and improve outcomes and patient safety.
NAHQ elevates quality at Becker's Healthcare Annual Meeting
April 2024
Edward (Ted) Donnelly, BSN, MHA, CPHQ represented NAHQ on the panel "Disruptors and the Disrupted: How Workforce Intelligence is Shaping Healthcare's Competitive Landscape." The panel explored how to leverage workforce data to optimize care team structures, recruit the best talent, and boost profitability.
Inaugural NAHQ ThinQ Tank a Huge Success
March 2024
March 7-8, NAHQ convened a group of healthcare industry thought leaders and trailblazers to begin to tackle the biggest issues facing healthcare today – care, cost, and the workforce “cliff – by tapping into the power and potential of healthcare quality.
The Carol Emmott Foundation Fellowship Network Annual Meeting
March 2024
In honor of International Women's Day in March, NAHQ CEO Stephanie Mercado and her co-authors of UNSTOPPABLE: Inspiring Stories of Perseverance, Triumph and Joy from Trailblazing Women in Healthcare shared their inspiring stories at The Carol Emmott Foundation Fellowship Network Annual Meeting.
NAHQ Thought Leaders Take the Stage at ACHE
March 2024
At the ACHE 2024 Congress on Healthcare Leadership, March 25-28, NAHQ hosted a pre-con "Executive Boot Camp: Leading with Quality as a Business Strategy." NAHQ VP Jennifer Pitts also led the panel discussion "Taking Quality from Compliance to Excellence".
Reuters Total Health 2023 Conference
November 2023
NAHQ CEO Stephanie Mercado, CAE, CPHQ, represented NAHQ during a Women’s Leadership Breakfast panel discussion to kick off the Reuters Total Health 2023 Conference on Nov. 7 with Julie Jacona, Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, The MetroHealth System and Tatyana Popkova, Chief Strategy Officer, UCI Health. The discussion addressed strategies for unleashing leadership potential and building empowering environments for women during this event that highlighted major success stories for building the innovative, forward-thinking, and more prosperous health systems of tomorrow.
Fawn Lopez, Publisher Emeritus of Modern Healthcare, said it best in her introductory remarks, “Each woman we’ve had the honor of recognizing has not only made a significant impact in her respective area and community but has also become a beacon of inspiration for others.”
Kaiser Permanente NCAL Kicks Off Second Cohort of their Workforce Accelerator Journey
October 2023
NAHQ team spent the day with Kaiser Permanente NCAL to kick off the second cohort of their Workforce Accelerator journey. NAHQ is looking forward to their exciting career growth and advances in quality and safety to come.
Fawn Lopez, Publisher Emeritus of Modern Healthcare, said it best in her introductory remarks, “Each woman we’ve had the honor of recognizing has not only made a significant impact in her respective area and community but has also become a beacon of inspiration for others.”
NAHQ CEO Recognized at the Modern Healthcare "Top Women Leaders" Gala
August 2023
The exceptional accomplishments of 25 inspirational female healthcare leaders were recognized at the Modern Healthcare “Top Women Leaders” gala.
We’re delighted to announce that NAHQ CEO Stephanie Mercado was among the remarkable honorees.
Fawn Lopez, Publisher Emeritus of Modern Healthcare, said it best in her introductory remarks, “Each woman we’ve had the honor of recognizing has not only made a significant impact in her respective area and community but has also become a beacon of inspiration for others.”
University of Kentucky's King's Daughters Medical Center Launch Workforce Accelerator
August 2023
The University of Kentucky's (UK) King's Daughters Medical Center has joined NAHQ on the quest for quality and safety. We were welcomed by Mashekia Jones-Slack and her team to launch their Workforce Accelerator implementation. Our work will help UK King’s Daughters establish common standards, reduce variability and provide role clarity among its team.
UMC of El Paso to Launch Workforce Accelerator Implementation
July 2023
NAHQ was welcomed to The University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC) by interim Chief Quality Officer Eric Johansen and team to launch their Workforce Accelerator implementation. This organizational solution is designed to standardize competencies across roles and responsibilities among their quality staff. We applaud UMC for its commitment to continuing to make healthcare quality and safety - and healthcare - better.
NAHQ CEO Awarded the 2023 Samuel B. Shapiro Award for Chief Staff Executive Achievement
June 2023
NAHQ CEO Stephanie Mercado, CAE, CPHQ, was awarded the 2023 Samuel B. Shapiro Award for Chief Staff Executive Achievement—the highest honor the Association Forum bestows on an association professional! Mercado was recognized at the ceremony in Chicago for outstanding service and accomplishments in association/nonprofit management.
NAHQ Featured at thINc360 Congress
June 2023
NAHQ was honored to share our insights at thINc360 - The Healthcare Innovation Congress, in Washington, D.C.! From NAHQ CEO Stephanie Mercado's thought-provoking keynote presentation that addresses the importance of rebranding quality to a panel moderated by Richard Bobos, NAHQ's senior vice president of Organizational Workforce Solutions, exploring how we can take care of our healthcare workers by reimagining workplace culture.
NAHQ’s Board Convenes to Advance Quality Mission
May 2023
NAHQ's board met on Monday, May 8, to discuss the state of the business as well as innovative ways to support healthcare quality and safety professionals and healthcare organizations in their ongoing quest to reduce variability in care delivery and drive value through improved outcomes.
NAHQ Visits Augusta Health in Fishervill Va
April 2023
Rick Bobos, SVP of Organization Workforce Solutions, and Ted Donnelly, VP of Client Success, were onsite at Augusta Health in Fishersville Va to launch the Workforce Accelerator® engagement. Led by Dr. Mahfuz Hoq, VPMA/CMO and Laurel Molloy, Administrative Director Quality and Patient Safety, Augusta Health is incorporating the NAHQ Healthcare Quality Competency Framework into the Quality Management System to further develop the quality capabilities and competencies of the leadership and staff.
NAHQ Presents at ACHE
March 2023
More than 350 attendees registered for the “A New Approach to Building Sustainable Healthcare Quality and Safety in Your Organization,” session at the American College of Healthcare Executives’ (ACHE) 2023 Congress on Healthcare Leadership. The well-received presentation was led by NAHQ CEO Stephanie Mercado; Robin Betts, vice president, safety, quality and regulatory services at Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals; and Kristine Groves, executive director of the VHA Office of Quality Management.
Kaiser Permanente Northern California Continues Its Focus on Upskilling Its Quality Workforce
February 2023
Kaiser Permanente Northern California completed phase one of its NAHQ Workforce Accelerator deployment moving 65 quality leaders through the program under the leadership of Robin Betts, RN, CPHQ, MBA-HA, Laure Lisk and Maria Faulve-Montojo. The group is now entering the sustain and upskilling phase and is the first client to secure NAHQ’s Organizational Membership Subscriptions. Once again, Kaiser Permanente Northern California is leading the way the industry thinks about building capabilities and capacity for quality.
NAHQ Working with Veterans Health Administration to Launch Workforce Accelerator
January 2023
NAHQ is working with Veterans Health Administration to launch Workforce Accelerator – a program designed to build workforce capabilities and capacity for quality and safety. We are actively engaged in all 18 VISNs, making this the largest deployment yet of Workforce Accelerator.
NAHQ Staff Details New Workforce Report at Institute for Healthcare Improvement Congress
December 2022
NAHQ staff provided healthcare leaders with details on NAHQ’s latest workforce report which outlines recommended actions healthcare organizations and leaders can take to better support and leverage the quality and safety workforce. A competent, coordinated workforce is the biggest lever to make the changes healthcare needs.
Healthcare Leaders Adopting NAHQ's Framework
November 2022
Healthcare Leaders are adopting NAHQ’s Framework at their locations and many are working directly with NAHQ to deploy a system-wide solution for Quality Workforce assessment, integration and skilling. These leaders are deploying Workforce Accelerator and taking DIY out of the equation. They partner with NAHQ to deploy it the NAHQ-way to produce sustainable success.
Inspira Health Network Welcomes NAHQ Navigators Onsite
September 2022
Inspira Health welcomed NAHQ Navigators Ted Donnelly and Sonjia Lee for an onsite visit as part of its Workforce Accelerator implementation. NAHQ applauds Inspira, including CEO Amy Mansue; Chief Quality Officer Tony Reed, MD; Workforce Accelerator Engagement Management Team members Paul Lambrecht and Katy Perez; and the Workforce Accelerator Committee, for its commitment to making healthcare quality—and healthcare—better.
NAHQ's First In-Person CPHQ Review Course Since the Pandemic
August 2022
NAHQ's Director, Workforce Solutions Aimee Lugay, spent two days with the Nebraska Association for Healthcare Quality, Risk and Safety for NAHQ's first in-person CPHQ Review Course since the pandemic. More than 40 healthcare quality professionals participated in the course as they continue on their CPHQ journey.
NAHQ CEO Speaks at Modern Healthcare's Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
July 2022
Stephanie Mercado, CAE, CPHQ, chief executive officer of NAHQ, recently lead a session on "Advice for Advancing Career in Healthcare" at Modern Healthcare's Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference. Mercado moderated a panel of experienced healthcare leaders discussing strategies, skills development, and business advice to succeed in leadership positions.
NAHQ Visits University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center
July 2022
NAHQ’s Director, Workforce Solutions, Aimee Lugay spent time with NAHQ President Emmett Ervin, MPA, CPHQ, of University of Maryland Medical System Corporation, and several healthcare leaders at the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center to observe first-hand their collaboration, continuous improvement, and commitment to provide exemplary care to the communities they serve. The leaders included are VP & Chief Quality Officer, Ingrid Connerney, DrPH, RN, CPPS, CJCP, FAAN; Director of Quality & Safety, Taryn R. H. Curtis, RN, MSN; SVP & Chief Operating Officer, Min Godwin; and President & CEO, Nathaniel Richardson, Jr.
Workforce Accelerator Solution Kicks off at CHRISTUS Health
July 2022
The Workforce Accelerator® solution kicked off at CHRISTUS Health, headquartered in Irving, T.X. Led by Claire Lauzon-Vallone, vice president of quality & safety, a team will work with NAHQ Navigator Jaclyn Hunter, RN, CPHQ throughout the initial “assess” phase and the rest of the engagement.
Inspira Health Network Launches Workforce Accelerator
July 2022
The Inspira Health Network in Mullica Hill, N.J., launched the Workforce Accelerator® solution this month, preparing to enter the “assess” phase. This work will be directed by Paul Lambrecht, vice president of quality & safety, working closely with Ted Donnelly, NAHQ’s vice president of Workforce Accelerator implementations, and NAHQ Navigator Sonjia Lee, RN, MS, CPHQ.
NAHQ Executive Committee
June 2022
NAHQ's executive team recently met to discuss innovative ways to support healthcare quality and safety professionals and healthcare organizations in their ongoing quest to reduce variability in care delivery and drive value through improved outcomes.
ThINc360
May 2022
NAHQ Chief Executive Officer, Stephanie Mercado, CAE, CPHQ, spoke at thINc360, hosted by The Healthcare Innovation Company. Mercado chatted alongside NAHQ board member, April Taylor, MS, MHA, FACHE, CMQ/OE, CLSSB, CPPS, CPHQ, as they discussed the importance of NAHQ's competency framework, the only accredited certification in healthcare quality, the CPHQ, and more.
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) Board Meeting
May 2022
NAHQ Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Stephanie Mercado represented NAHQ during the virtual CAHME Board Meeting. CAHME is devoted to quality improvement of education for healthcare management and administration professionals through its accreditation. Several of the academic organizations accredited by CAHME recognize the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality® (CPHQ) credential for master’s-level credit in their programs.
Becker's 12th Annual Meeting
April 2022
Several NAHQ staff attended Becker’s 12th Annual Meeting in Chicago, to hear first-hand the pressing issues healthcare leaders face today and to speak with them about NAHQ’s organization workforce solutions to help their teams deliver on healthcare quality and patient safety.
ACHE Congress
March 2022
Several NAHQ staff attended the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Congress in Chicago, raising awareness on how NAHQ’s offerings can enhance an organization’s ability to achieve its quality and safety goals. In addition, NAHQ CEO Stephanie Mercado served as a panelist at the ACHE Congress, providing real-world advice to emerging healthcare leaders, articulating the importance of mentorship and professional networks, as well as discussing some of the biggest challenges from the pandemic.
Oaklawn Hospital
March 2022
The Workforce Accelerator™ solution will launch at Oaklawn Hospital in April with an anticipated kickoff meeting in May. Located in Marshall, Michigan, this engagement will be directed at the hospital by Irene Johnson, director of quality, safety risk and infection prevention and led by NAHQ Navigator Jaclyn Hunter, RN, CPHQ.
UNIVANTS of Healthcare Excellence Award
March 2022
The UNIVANTS of Healthcare Excellence Award recognizes teams who collaborate across disciples and transform healthcare delivery and ultimately patient lives. NAHQ believes a key enabler to achieving healthcare excellence is a coordinated healthcare workforce that unifies to challenge traditional thought and uses quality processes to achieve better outcomes. Learn more about the UNIVANTS Award.
The Leapfrog Greenlight Gala
March 2022
NAHQ CEO, Stephanie Mercado, attended The Leapfrog Group's Greenlight Gala with NAHQ leaders including president Emmett T. Ervin and past president Carole Guinane to celebrate the launch of the Leapfrog Judie Burrows Education Institute.
Kaiser Permanente Northern California
March 2022
The Assess phase of the NAHQ Workforce Accelerator™ solution is well underway as the NAHQ Professional Assessments have been completed by 70 quality team members in this region of Kaiser Permanente. Spearheaded by Robin Betts, vice president, Safety, Quality, Regulatory Services and directed by Laure Lisk, executive director, Quality & Regulatory Services, NAHQ’s Organizational Workforce Solutions team, including NAHQ Navigators, are preparing to enter the Planning phase in early April. This is an exciting journey for the Kaiser Permanente leadership and staff.
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
March 2022
The NAHQ Workforce Accelerator™ solution has completed the Assess phase, and we are entering the Planning phase. NAHQ’s Organizational Workforce Solutions team, led by Ted Donnelly, vice president of workforce accelerator implementations, is working directly with Kristine Groves, executive director of the Office of Quality Management; her leadership team and the VHA quality leaders in Veterans Integrated Services Networks 04, 21 and 23 to incorporate the NAHQ Healthcare Quality Competency Framework into the Veterans Administration medical centers.
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) Board Meeting
February 2022
NAHQ CEO and Executive Director Stephanie Mercado represented NAHQ during the virtual CAHME Board Meeting. CAHME is devoted to quality improvement of education for healthcare management and administration professionals through its accreditation. Several of the academic organizations accredited by CAHME recognize the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality® (CPHQ) credential for master’s-level credit in their programs.
Association Forum Healthcare Collaborative Panel
February 2022
Stephanie Mercado, NAHQ CEO and Executive Director, participated in a panel at the Association Forum’s Healthcare Policy and Economics to share her thoughts on challenges and opportunities in the healthcare industry and how organizations can help their members prepare for what lies ahead.
Patient Safety Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Steering Committee
February 2022
NAHQ serves on the IHI National Steering Committee for Patient Safety (NSC) as part of a collaborative effort to encourage greater coordination of collective patient safety efforts. The group recently met, continuing to work toward accelerating the improvement of safety, reduce harm and address areas of need.
Arab Health: 13th Quality Management Conference
February 2022
The 13th Quality Management Conference gathered senior healthcare professionals, including NAHQ CEO and Executive Director Stephanie Mercado spoke virtually. Her remarks focused on the importance of a standard set of healthcare quality competencies for the healthcare workforce.
The Leapfrog Group
December 2021
Carole Guinane, 2020 NAHQ President, was selected to serve on The Leapfrog Group’s Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Advisory Committee. The ASC Advisory Committee was formed by Leapfrog’s Board of Directors to leverage Leapfrog’s relationship with ambulatory surgery centers that participate in its annual Leapfrog ASC Survey and foster improvements in ASC safety, quality and value. Carole is a long-time NAHQ volunteer and is the current Executive Director for ASC Operations at Cedars-Sinai in Beverly Hills, CA. Her responsibilities have ranged from steering system-wide quality improvement initiatives and introducing/expanding orthopedic service lines to opening multimillion dollar ambulatory surgery centers.
Valley Medical Center (VMC)
November 2021
At the onsite kickoff of the Workforce AcceleratorTM at VMC in Renton, WA, NAHQ CEO Stephanie Mercado joined Ted Donnelly, NAHQ Senior Vice President of Organizational Workforce Solutions for very successful meetings with members of the VMC team, including Jeannine Grinnell, CEO; Kim Herner, MD, CMO; and Pam Devol, Director of Quality and Safety.
University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center
September 2021
NAHQ CEO and Executive Director Stephanie Mercado traveled to Baltimore, MD, to meet with NAHQ President-Elect Emmett Ervin and his quality and clinical staff team in infection control and the stroke unit to learn more about their admirable work.
Human Health Education and Research Foundation (HHERF)
July 2021
Carole Guinane, NAHQ Immediate Past President, has been selected to serve on the HHERF International advisory Council. HHERF’s goal is to act as a catalyst for long-term change and be the driving force behind sustainable development. Guinane also serves on the HHERF Human Health Summit planning committee.
Bon Secours Mercy Health
July 2021
NAHQ CEO, Stephanie Mercado, participated with Thom Dammrich, NAHQ Business Strategist and Ted Donnelly, NAHQ Sr. Vice President of Organizational Workforce Solutions in the kickoff of the Workforce Accelerator beta implementation with Bon Secours Mercy Health in Cincinnati. It was great to meet with Quality and Patient Safety leaders Dr. Taryn Kennedy, Charla Ulrich, Cassie Lewis, Ellen Bentz and Beth Zimmerman.
HealthStreamTM
June 2021
During a webinar produced by new NAHQ training delivery partner, HealthStreamTM, NAHQ CEO Stephanie Mercado, discussed the industry-standard NAHQ Healthcare Quality Competency FrameworkTM and the importance of delivering competency-based quality education to equip all professionals and organizations across the continuum of healthcare to deliver on higher levels of quality, patient safety and value.
Accountable Care Learning Collaborative and Western Governors University
May 2021
The Accountable Care Learning Collaborative is supporting Western Governors University in the development of a three-course certificate for aspiring value-based care leaders. Throughout the curriculum, they will feature several industry experts, including 2020 NAHQ President Carole Guinane, describing real-life experiences and insights. Guinane has extensive experience at the corporate vice president and vice president levels with healthcare systems in California, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Colorado, including Interim President for Sentara Life Care. From steering system-wide quality improvement initiatives and introducing/expanding orthopedic service lines, to leading the charge on opening multi-million dollar ambulatory surgery centers, Carole will share her successes with future leaders in healthcare.
North Carolina Community Health Center Association (NCCHCA)
April 2021
On April 9, NAHQ CEO and Executive Director Stephanie Mercado was the morning keynote for the final day of NCCHCA’s Virtual Primary Care Conference. Mercado spoke to CEOs and MDs of primary care organizations about “Leadership in a Time of Transition”.
Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (SIDM)
March 2021
NAHQ recently joined SIDM’s coalition to improve diagnosis. Michael Friedman, MD CPHQ, NAHQ Director-at-Large, serves as NAHQ’s liaison to the coalition and represented NAHQ for the first time at the coalition meeting on March 29.
Various Health Systems and Hospitals
March 2021
NAHQ CEO and Executive Director Stephanie Mercado has met with a number of health systems and hospitals across the country to learn about their efforts toward safety and quality improvements for their patients and their excellent work throughout the pandemic. To date, meetings have taken place with Mercy Regional Medical Center, Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital Network, SSM Health, Holland Hospital, MidMichigan Health, MelroseWakefield Healthcare and Memorial Regional Hospital.