We respectfully request $34,950 to support the inaugural Quality Improvement in College Health Conference . College health professionals are uniquely positioned to increase utilization of preventive services, promote the formation of healthy behavior patterns, and reduce chronic disease risk for a large segment of the US population. Consistent with health care nationwide, college students often do not receive optimal care and there are inadequate systems to support population-level health; 26,27,47,50 yet, there currently is no formalized national agenda, structure, or strategy to support quality improvement specific to the field of college health. Although there are numerous organizations and resources driving quality improvement nationwide, these efforts have translated to limited adoption or implementation within the field of college health. Consistent with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report stating between the health care we have and the care we could have lies not just a gap but a chasm,15 the grant proposal team believes that the most effective way to close this chasm across the diverse array of college health delivery systems, and ultimately improve the health outcomes of a large segment of the U.S population, is through systematic QI efforts throughout our field. This two-day conference, with approximately 150 attendees, seeks to close the gap in translating best practices in quality improvement into implementation within the field of college health. Aligned with AHRQ's mission, this conference will lay the ground work to build the capacity and capability of college health professionals to improve the quality, safety efficiency, and effectiveness of health care at institutions of higher education nationwide by providing training on QI methodology, identifying barriers to QI implementation within college health, and developing a national action plan to overcome these barriers.

Public Health Relevance

The Quality Improvement in College Health Conference will establish a dedicated core of college health professionals trained in quality improvement (QI) methodology and best practices to champion quality initiatives at their local institutions, and more broadly, improvement methodologies across their discipline and professional networks. The post-conference website will further facilitate rapid dissemination of successful projects throughout the field of college health. The conference will not only allow for important dialogue about the barriers to implementing best practices and identify steps to overcome those barriers, but will also provide an important first step in creating an infrastructure to support the entire field.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Type
Conference (R13)
Project #
1R13HS022520-01A1
Application #
8844008
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHS1)
Program Officer
Azam, Irim
Project Start
2015-08-01
Project End
2016-07-31
Budget Start
2015-08-01
Budget End
2016-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
New York University
Department
Type
University-Wide
DUNS #
041968306
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10012