NATIONAL QUALITY CARE NETWORK

Background

RCI's goal is to increase the quality of long-term, home and community-based care in America. There are many dimensions of quality and a number of strategies that must be undertaken if we are to make real progress in the field. One strategy is to increase the number of evidence-based caregiver programs operating. Well-implemented evidence-based programs in our view have the greatest chance of improving the health and well being of caregivers and improving the overall quality of long-term, home and community-based care. However, research and experience have shown the difficulty of translating evidence-based programs into public health practice and policy and the necessity for system's change. A second critical strategy to improve quality is workforce development. A third strategy is to increase public awareness of the dimensions of quality and generate advocacy to achieve them. Other strategies will emphasize policy, financing and/or regulatory approaches.

The National Quality Care Network (NQCN)

In 2007, the Rosalynn Carter Institute in cooperation with Johnson and Johnson launched a national network committed to promoting quality in the long-term, home and community-based care systems. The network will be comprised of organizations, scientists and advocates involved in quality-improvement initiatives including the development and dissemination of evidence-based interventions for caregivers, workforce development, public education and advocacy, and ultimately policy, financing and regulatory activities. Each of these strategies will be the focus of at least one "Practice Community" within the NQCN. A Practice Community will consist of a number of sites working actively to solve a particular problem or implement a particular strategy. RCI's role will be to facilitate the work of these Focus Networks in whatever ways are possible, to convene these groups as necessary, and to harvest the learning that takes place within these networks for broader dissemination.

The first Practice Community launched consists of a group of agencies and researchers working together to implement evidence based programs for Alzheimer's caregivers (read more) in five diverse communities. A second Practice Community under development is the Georgia Quality Care Network. Others will follow and we welcome inquiries and innovative ideas from interested groups and potential partners.

Core Activities of the NQCN:

• Creating and maintaining a national network of leaders involved in advancing quality in long-term, home and community based care.
  

• Linking individuals and organizations with similar interests within Practice Communities which provide a structure for shared problem solving and the development of joint solutions to critical problems in the field.
  

• Identifying, disseminating and developing evidence-based interventions, clinical guidelines, standards of care, and workforce development strategies to achieve quality in long-term, home and community-based care.

• Organizing educational events including conferences, training sessions and workshops to support the overall work of the NQCN and the specific activities of the Focus Networks.
  

• Establish the first three Practice Communities of the NQCN:

1. Evidence-based Practice Network funded by Johnson and Johnson
   

2. Workforce Development Network

3. Georgia Quality Care Network funded by a grant from the Healthcare Georgia Foundation.

Organize educational events including conferences, teleconferences, and online education and training sessions that help promote more effective programs and policies to support family and paid caregivers – 2008 Conference to be held October 23-24, 2008 – stay tuned for more details and registration materials.