Valley Preferred, the preferred provider organization affiliated with Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), has introduced COVID-19 Healthcare Delivery and Transformation. As an American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Portfolio SponsorĀ®, Valley Preferred has integrated this new project into its Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program.
The projectās premise is to document and maximize the contributions of health care workers during this unprecedented time. By attesting to their participation, allopathically boarded physicians and PAs will be awarded credit ā ABMS MOC Improvement in Medical Practice (Part IV) or National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) PI-CME ā for these accomplishments.
āAll physicians and physician assistants became front line quality improvement practitioners during the pandemic because changes were constant,ā says John Stoeckle, MD, who heads Valley Preferredās MOC Portfolio Programā¢. āEveryone was already doing great work, so we saw this as a perfect opportunity. Clearly, itās one of the best ways to recognize our professionalsā many outstanding contributions.ā
COVID-19 Healthcare Delivery and Transformation is currently active among Valley Preferredās members. The organization believes the initiative is an excellent model for health system leaders and providers to see work happening in real time versus education from vehicles such as learning modules.
An individualās work can fall into one of four topic areas:
- Increasing virtual visit workflows
- Increasing COVID-19 testing
- Safe and appropriate PPE acquisition and use
- Safe/appropriate inpatient COVID-19 treatment
The COVID-19 project was developed and put into place quickly as a result of multidisciplinary teamwork. Support was received from every facet of LVHN and Valley Preferred, and from leadership through various other departments. The projectās end goal, in addition to assisting physicians and PAs with needed certifications, is, according to Dr. Stoeckle, ārecognizing meaningful professional development and our development of a culture of quality improvement.ā
āValley Preferred is dedicated to creating value for its members first and foremost, whether that involves thinking about well-being, reducing administrative burdens, or working toward the optimal care of patients,ā says Dr. Stoeckle. āOur organization saw this project as one that immediately aligns with our values, and took all the necessary steps to actualize it in a timely manner.ā