Quality improvement learning collaborative addressing obesity, asthma and healthy aging

Hartford - The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced the “2015 Quality Improvement Learning Collaborative,” a six-month learning opportunity for community health agencies to improve how they provide key public health services.  

Five community health agencies are participating in the collaborative: the Norwalk Health Department (Norwalk), Pomperaug District Department of Health (Oxford, Southbury, Woodbury), Fair Haven Community Health Center (New Haven), Optimus Health (Bridgeport) and The Family and Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut (New London). 

Working with quality improvement coaches from New Hampshire’s Community Health Institute, the agencies are focusing on obesity prevention, healthy aging, and asthma management - priority areas identified by the Healthy Connecticut 2020 State Health Improvement plan.  Within these focus areas, the agencies are working to improve the quality of their services by strengthening community coalitions, improving communication among health providers, promoting the use of proven chronic disease self-management programs and increasing the use of best practices for individuals with asthma. 

"This Quality Improvement Learning process has tremendous potential to improve the way public health services are currently provided,” said DPH Commissioner Dr. Jewel Mullen. "The insight and improvements these agencies achieve can benefit all community health agencies across the state, and help us achieve our vision of an equitable public health system which delivers quality services to all Connecticut residents. "

The Quality Improvement Collaborative is sponsored by DPH in partnership with the Yale School of Public Health. Funding is provided by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To see how Connecticut residents currently fare in the areas of obesity, asthma and a range of health issues that can affect older residents, please visit the Health Connecticut 2020 Performance Dashboard.   

###