OMA launches the Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare

IQMH dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare services

TORONTO , Oct. 22 /CNW/ - The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) today announced the launch of a wholly-owned, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare services, the Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare (IQMH).

IQMH offers accreditation, proficiency testing, knowledge transfer and facilitation and expertise services to medical laboratories and other healthcare organizations. As a partner with the Quality Management Program - Laboratory Services (QMP-LS), IQMH has over 30 years of expertise in quality assurance for healthcare behind it.

IQMH takes a collaborative and customized approach to quality management healthcare projects. Through its knowledge, innovation, expertise and professional partnerships, IQMH provides evidence-based and context-specific best practice advice to healthcare organizations.

"The Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare provides an invaluable resource for healthcare organizations," said Dr. Suzanne Strasberg , President of the OMA. "IQMH is well-positioned to ensure patient safety is taken to the next level by providing valuable information to organizations across the province."

"Patient safety is paramount and the principles of quality management can help healthcare organizations create systems that are designed to eliminate errors," said Dr. Gregory Flynn , IQMH's Chief Executive Officer. "IQMH's team of experts has been improving the quality of healthcare in medical laboratories in Ontario and other jurisdictions for over 30 years. Those same principles can be applied to a variety of different healthcare organizations and professions."

IQMH is creating an interactive online education series, Decoding ISO 15189(TM), which is designed to help medical laboratories understand the ISO 15189:2007(E) Medical laboratories - particular requirements for quality and competence standard. The series will be available this fall and will help labs decipher ISO 15189 requirements, understand quality management systems and implement occurrence management solutions.

"Labs both here and abroad have begun adopting that standard in order to demonstrate their commitment to excellence and improve patient safety. IQMH is dedicated to helping them in their efforts," Dr. Flynn said. "Decoding ISO 15189(TM) takes a very complex standard and distils it into easy-to-understand requirements. It provides medical laboratories with the knowledge and skills they need to prepare for accreditation."

About OMA

The Ontario Medical Association represents and advocates on behalf of 28,000 physicians across the province. The OMA develops and administers a variety of programs and services that support physicians in their personal and professional lives which include insurance plans, practice management resources, physician health, legal advice and services, government advocacy and communications planning. The OMA is committed to enhancing patient care, strengthening Ontario's health care system.

About IQMH

The Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare (IQMH) is a global leader in developing quality management solutions for healthcare organizations. IQMH helps medical laboratories and other healthcare organizations improve their quality through accreditation, proficiency testing, education, guideline development and innovation. As a partner with the world-renowned Quality Management Program - Laboratory Services (QMP-LS), IQMH has more than 30 years of experience in designing and implementing quality management programs for healthcare. For more information on IQMH products and services, please visit us at IQMH.org.

For further information: Media Contacts: Leianne Musselman, Manager, Media Relations, OMA, [phone]; Poonam Khanna, Communications Coordinator, QMP-LS, [email protected], 1-800-323-9540 x 229, [phone] x 229