The james a vohs award for quality-the seventh annual permanente journal special issue.

Abstract

Preventive interventions have far greater potential to improve the public health than treatment of existing medical problems. Doing the right thing includes a mandate to exert our best efforts to implement preventive strategies for our individual patients and for the general population. This year's Vohs award winner and runner-up both represent disease prevention programs. The winner is: “Tobacco Dependence Program: A Multifaceted, Systems Approach to Reduce Tobacco Use in Kaiser Permanente Members in Northern California.” The runner-up is described in the article: “The Kaiser Permanente Northwest Cardiovascular Risk Factor Management (CVRFM) Program: A Model for All.” The CVRFM Program also won the America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) contest for best quality CV project, making it a national benchmark. We are proud to present both projects in The Permanente Journal. “Just do the right thing.” — Chinese proverb Among the lifestyle and medical modifications that reduce vascular disease risk smoking is the only one amenable to total, safe, unequivocal elimination. The Northern CA Tobacco Dependence Program involves: 1) screening to ascertain tobacco users, 2) education of health care providers and performance feedback including awards for best results, 3) increased classes, in-person and telephone counseling, and 4) increased financial coverage of these measures. Tobacco use prevalence in Northern CA KP members has dropped by 11% during this program. Multiple factors may be involved in this decline. However, it seems likely that a substantial proportion is due to this fine program. The CVRFM program is designed to identify high-risk subjects with one or more risk traits for coronary heart disease, contact them, and institute favorable changes. In the initial “outreach” program to 8000 eligible members, 97% consented to participate. In the first 12 months, beneficial results among patients with multiple risk factors for atherothrombotic vascular disease were substantial. Similar benefits in terms of fewer later adverse events should follow. This type of effort has evident generalizability, similar programs have sprung up in other regions and cross-fertilization of ideas seems inevitable. The James A Vohs Award for Quality was established when Mr Vohs, a champion of innovation and improvement, retired from 17 years as President, CEO, and Chairman of the Boards of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc, and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals. The intent was to recognize and honor projects that advance the quality of care, showcase innovative techniques, produce transferable knowledge, and underscore the value of multidisciplinary teamwork. Annually, each KP Division may nominate one or two projects. The award is presented for the project judged to best represent an effort to improve quality through documented institutionalized changes in direct patient care. The selection criteria include demonstration of measurable improvement in care and potential for transfer to other locations. While the process for nomination has some local variation, each Division has contact liaisons easily located through the Regional quality representative. Nominations need approval by the Division President and Medical Director and applications are due September 1st each year. The Vohs Award Selection Committee announces its selection at the December Board of Directors meeting and the recognition ceremony takes place at the March Board of Directors' meeting. The Awardees receive no monetary gift but there is much recognition and publicity. The winning Division receives an engraved award, and project team members receive awards. Winners and runners-up are invited to present their projects at a reception hosted by the Boards of Directors, Division Presidents, and other Program Officers. The “real” award, of course, is the knowledge of having done good work that made a real difference in people's lives. The possibilities for projects are limited only by the imaginations of our health professionals. Undoubtedly many qualifying programs have not been submitted. Part of our purpose in publishing these projects is the hope that they will serve as models to motivate others to present projects for consideration. The process is an opportunity to share with 11,000 KP physicians and the general health care community your ideas about improving care of illness and providing health information.