Hospital Safety and Quality Improvement

The HAP Quality Initiatives team supports Pennsylvania acute care hospitals in quality and patient safety initiatives designed to serve vulnerable populations in the reduction of preventable hospital-acquired conditions, plus readmissions. HAP’s Quality team also provides assistance on the topics of patient and family engagement (PFE), workforce resilience, health equity and disparities, and performance data analytics.

Hospital Quality Improvement

The Hospital and Healthsytem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) has shown a commitment to the delivery of high-quality, patient-centic health care by partnering with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on collaboratives to improve patient outcomes by reducing hospital-acquired conditions (HAC). During the most recent Hospital Improvement Innovation Network (HIIN) CMS contract, participating Pennsylvania acute care hospitals achieved an overall reduction of 19 percent for HACs, and a 2 percent reduction in readmissions.
 

HAP Helps Pennsylvania Hospitals Improve Quality and Safety of Patient Care

CMS is now moving forward with a new quality initiative entitled the Hospital Quality Improvement Contract (HQIC), designed to support rural and critical access hospitals, as well as those hospitals that are challenged with serving vulnerable populations. HAP, along with Q3 Health Innovation Partners (Q3HIP), which includes New Jersey and Ohio Hospital Association partners, will assist eligible hospitals during this four-year initiative, providing engaging educational offerings, creative technical assistance, and meaningful data measures designed to drive rapid cycle improvement. Q3HIP is a joint quality improvement partnership between the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Ohio hospital associations.

To further support hospitals’ patient safety and quality of care objectives, HAP’s Quality team is working on the topics of patient- and family-centered health care, workforce resiliency, the promotion of healthy foods, and clinical team building. A history of strong connectedness to the hospital community and a reputation for providing support help to identify those areas that best align with hospitals’ needs and strategic focus. HAP works with multi-disciplinary hospital-based clinical teams to improve patient safety, population health, and emergency management, including the COVID-19 pandemic response.
 

HAP Contacts

For additional information regarding these patient safety initiatives, please contact Robert Shipp, III, PhD, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, vice president, population health and clinical affairs. Media inquiries should be directed to Kim Yakowski, manager, media relations.

 

HAP News


July 11, 2025

HAP Achievement Awards: Phoenixville Hospital

HAP's annual Achievement Awards honor hospitals and health systems for their innovation, creativity, and commitment to patient care. The Achievement Awards showcase and share member hospitals’ and health systems’ successful programs and best practices.

July 11, 2025

This Week in Harrisburg: 5 Things to Know

While the General Assembly missed its June 30 budget deadline, essential state services remain operational, and legislative leaders are continuing toward a framework that includes key education, health care, and transportation investments. The Senate is not in session this week, but the House will return to session Monday through Wednesday. HAP is closely monitoring the process and advocating for hospital funding priorities as budget negotiations continue to trudge on.

July 08, 2025

Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries Wait Longer for Post-Acute Care

If you are a Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollee, you are more likely to experience a longer hospital stay before discharge to a post-acute care facility compared with traditional Medicare enrollees, according to a new analysis by NORC at the University of Chicago.

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