Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Visit BHCHP
Left: Savanna Shores, RN presenting about BHCHP’s Hep C services
Right: IHI group with Dr. Denise De Las Nueces, Interim CEO & Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jen Brody, Director of HIV Services, and Savanna Shores, RN
Recently several senior health care executives from around the country, members of the Leadership Alliance of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) visited BHCHP. They toured our clinical space and our respite program here at 780 Albany Street. Nikki Tennermann, LICSW, MBA and Senior Project Director at the IHI organized the visit. She graciously agreed to an interview.
Could you tell us more about the IHI?
For more than 30 years, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) has used improvement science to advance and sustain better outcomes in health and health care across the world. The IHI Leadership Alliance is a dynamic collaboration of leaders united by a common mission — to work with one another and in partnership with our patients, workforces, and communities to deliver the full promise of the IHI Triple Aim: improve the health of populations, enhance the experience of patients, and reduce the per capita cost of care.
Why did your Leadership Alliance choose to visit BHCHP?
BHCHP is a nationally recognized leader in delivering health care to individuals and families affected by homelessness. Homelessness continues to be an urgent challenge facing health care institutions, and leaders are seeking equitable solutions to support this patient population. When the Leadership Alliance scheduled our Fall Meeting in Boston, MA, we knew there was an opportunity to visit such an innovative and pioneering program. We wanted to bring health care executives from across the nation to learn practical tips and new approaches for supporting patients experiencing homelessness and associated social drivers of health.
How did you learn about BHCHP?
IHI’s founder, Dr. Don Berwick, and BHCHP’s Dr. Jim O’Connell are long-term colleagues and collaborators. BHCHP is also well-known in the Boston area and beyond.
What did your visitors learn while they were here? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
The Leadership Alliance members were delighted to visit BHCHP and enthusiastic about taking learnings back to their local organizations. Leaders learned about how to build trust and create a safe space for people within the community to access health and dental care. They learned ways to provide easy access to substance use monitoring for patients, which is another common social driver of health seen across the country. And they learned about the delivery of effective HIV and hepatitis C care and medication management for those with unstable housing.
