Rwanda, Nigeria and Thailand Delegations Visit NY for Study Tours
May, 20082008 may have only just begun, but the AIDS Institute has already had the pleasure of hosting three country delegations this year for Study Tours in New York City. February 2008 saw the arrival of delegations from Rwanda and Nigeria, while March brought a group of visitors from Thailand.
New York City Study Tours are an important mechanism for key in-country personnel to observe how quality improvement is implemented in a variety of health care settings in New York. Through site visits, meetings and presentations, visitors gain an increased body of hands-on knowledge, understanding and skills to address and implement quality improvement. Study Tours usually last approximately one week and include MOH and CDC staff and other government and NGO personnel. Delegations have the opportunity to learn from AIDS Institute and facility staff about HIVQUAL, its implementation at both the facility and national level, and gain an increased familiarity with important key components of the program such as coaching and data management.
The tours also represent a government-to-government exchange on how to manage quality improvement. In February 2008, the visits by Rwandan and Nigerian delegations coincided, allowing for additional peer learning between the two groups.
During the Study Tour, the delegations visited a wide variety of sites ranging from large hospitals such as Montefiore Medical Center and Harlem Hospital Center to smaller facilities like the Joseph P. Addabbo Center which provides care to underserved and immigrant communities in Queens, NY.
At the Montefiore Medical Group’s CICERO outpatient HIV program, the delegations learned in detail how a quality management program can be developed, managed and maintained across a multi-site system of clinics. At the Veterans Administration hospital, the delegations had the opportunity to view a comprehensive electronic medical record system that allows for comprehensive care management and practitioner decision support.
In addition to site visits, study tour delegations often participate in relevant meetings at the AIDS Institute held during their stay. These meetings often provide insights into a variety of strategies for quality improvement, and allow visitors to improve their understanding of how quality improvement can be implemented at local, regional and national levels.
The tour also provides an opportunity for the U.S.-based team to learn from our global partners. This year, the Rwandan and Nigerian delegations had the opportunity to present to the New York City Quality Management Program. One presentation highlighted the Rwandan pay for performance program, which involves quarterly scoring of facilities that are then tied to payment. The program has demonstrated that pay for performance can promote significant increases in quality in a short period of time through increases in health worker salaries and motivation. The presentations from both delegations were excellent opportunities for mutual learning between the Steering Committee and the visiting delegations.
During their March visit, the Thai delegation gave an informative presentation to the New York State Quality of Care Advisory Committee, discussing HIV/AIDS in Thailand and their extensive QI work there. The group was also able to participate in the New York State Consumer Advisory Meeting; providing the delegation with an opportunity to see the New York example of consumer feedback in HIV care.
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HIVQUAL International is supported through HRSA as the International Quality Center
for PEPFAR and through funding from UNICEF.
HIVQUAL International partners with the National Quality Center.
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