CONTACT: 516-209-5294
Patricia Simino Boyce psboyce@ipro.org
Linda Sion lsion@ipro.org
IPRO has won a new federal contract to support the dissemination of tools and research findings aimed at improving the quality and safety of health care in the United States. Under the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ’s) Knowledge Transfer/Implementation contract, IPRO will receive specific task assignments to support accelerated dissemination of evidence-based products that improve the quality and safety of health care delivery. Contracts are for one year with four additional option years.
The first project assigned to IPRO is to develop a learning network to provide technical assistance to Medicare-funded Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) and associated hospitals on AHRQ tools to improve the quality and safety of health care delivery. The focus will include training QIOs on the implementation of a hospital discharge planning toolkit, developed under AHRQ sponsorship.
“We are delighted to have been chosen by AHRQ to support its evidence-based knowledge transfer effort,” said IPRO Chief Executive Officer Theodore O. Will. “Our first activity – supporting Quality Improvement Organizations and hospitals in improving hospital discharge planning – couldn’t be more timely,” he said, noting recent research indicating that almost 20 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are re-hospitalized within 30 days, at an estimated annual cost of $17.4 billion.
AHRQ is the lead Federal agency charged with improving the quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of health care. AHRQ sponsors and conducts research that provides evidence-based information about health care outcomes, quality, cost, use and access. AHRQ also supports initiatives that disseminate and help move research into practice. This contract is part of AHRQ’s Knowledge Transfer/Implementation program, which seeks to accelerate the dissemination and implementation of AHRQ’s evidence-based products, tools, and research findings into the health care system. IPRO will be assigned specific projects under this contract.
IPRO is a national organization providing a full spectrum of healthcare assessment and improvement services that foster more efficient use of resources and enhance healthcare quality to achieve better patient outcomes. Founded in 1984, IPRO is highly regarded for the independence of its approach, the depth of its knowledge and experience, and the integrity of its programs. IPRO holds contracts with federal, state and local government agencies, as well as private sector clients, operating best-of-class programs in more than 33 states and the District of Columbia. A national nonprofit organization, IPRO is headquartered in Lake Success, New York and is a 501(c)(3) corporation.