Authors

  1. Huddleston, Mary RN, MHSE, CPHQ, FNAHQ

Article Content

The National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) has always been a productive source of information and support for quality professionals, but now more than ever, NAHQ is striving to provide relevant content that will support the quality profession and quality professionals on the front lines.

 

I am delighted to announce NAHQ's focus on Healthcare Transitions in 2015.

 

This special issue focuses on transitions in care, which are the lynchpin for coordination of care in current and future delivery models. NAHQ understands that handoffs are of critical importance and when transitions are challenged, the patient suffers. We in healthcare strive to provide safe transitions and our patients expect that. This issue includes diverse articles that focus on various aspects of transitions-from within a delivery system, to across delivery systems, to engaging the community and to quantitative and qualitative data analyzing the opportunities for reducing readmissions and other care transitions. This special issue represents what the Journal of Healthcare Quality does best: applied research that is relevant and actionable for healthcare leaders.

 

NAHQ would like to thank Maulik Joshi, DrPH, for his insights and leadership in bringing this topic forward in this issue of the Journal of Healthcare Quality. Dr. Joshi is an industry leader who knows well the complexities and challenges with making transitions productive. NAHQ thanks Dr. Joshi for his contribution to the Journal of Healthcare Quality and to the profession of healthcare quality.

 

I am also pleased to announce NAHQ's inaugural National Quality Summit that will take place on April 23 to 24, 2015, in Philadelphia, PA. NAHQ has enlisted a world renowned expert in healthcare transitions-Eric Coleman, MD, MPH, and teamed him up with quality professionals and NAHQ leaders Lenard Parisi, MA, RN, CPHQ, FNAHQ, and Nancy Terwoord, BS, RN, CPHQ, who bring the quality profession's perspectives to the table on this important issue.

 

I hope to see you in Philadelphia in April. Space is limited; if you cannot attend in person, consider attending virtually!

 

Finally, I will ask you to be on the lookout for additional rich content around the topic of transitions. Visit http://nahq.org to find articles and resources to support you in your journey to improve the quality of transitions of care. Together we can improve quality, transitions, and patient care.