Statement by David Schulke, AHQA Executive Vice President on Remaking American Medicine

“The Remaking American Medicine (RAM) documentary series scheduled to air nationally on PBS stations next week takes a frank look at the severe quality problems in the American health care system. Other programs have tried to do that before, but this program is unique in two ways.”

“First, it provides in-depth coverage of the hard work of clinical quality improvement that committed and innovative health professionals, consumers and purchasers are undertaking—sometimes together—in a number of communities around the United States. The program producers secured permission to give the public an inside view of people working together to get control of unreliable clinical processes that too often just don’t work. The program examines the problem of good people producing bad outcomes, and looks for more effective solutions than the common ‘shame and blame’ response to quality problems.”

“Second, the RAM initiative is much more than a competent documentary. From the beginning, the organizers made a conscious effort to promote local awareness of the program to help people in communities understand the depth of our quality problems and encourage them to continue to push hard for progress long after the last episode airs.”

“Twenty-seven local RAM coalitions led by PBS stations and QIOs have been working in communities for more than a year to advance chronic disease prevention and management, patient safety, patient-centered care, and patient or family health care advocacy. They have convened Town Hall meetings, health care forums, health screenings, and health fairs; they have produced local TV programs and viewer call-in panels; they have developed community resources such as health care tip sheets, bilingual flyers and brochures, and resource guides.

Through these efforts and others, dedicated individuals and communities across the country are working to improve health care quality.”

Editor’s note: The American Health Quality Association represents the nation’s Quality Improvement Organizations, which work for a variety of public and private organizations, including the Medicare program to improve care for the American public. AHQA is a national partner in the RAM effort. More information on QIO involvement in RAM is available at: http://ramcampaign.org/pages/QIOs.htm