Healthcentric Advisors (the former Quality Partners of Rhose Island) is a non-profit health care quality improvement agency based in Providence that provides consulting, research and education services. Originally formed in 1995 under the sponsorship of the Rhode Island Medical Society to secure the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization contract for the state of Rhode Island, Helathcentric Advisors is now a fully independent organization governed by a voluntary board of directors. The agency collaborates with national and local government agencies, health care providers, stakeholders, insurers, educational institutions and foundations on many health care quality improvement initiatives. With a staff of over 45 physicians, nurses, educators, analysts and other health care professionals, this agency is viewed within the health care industry as a local and national leader in quality improvement.

Much of our work focuses on local physician practices: Chronic Kidney Disease, Safe Transitions and PowerUp for Prevention. We work with practices to improve preventive health care rates using electronic health records (EHRs) in the following areas:

• Mammography Screening
• Colorectal Cancer Screening
• Influenza Immunizations
• Pneumonia Immunizations

Our Practice Assistance Program is grounded in the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model of care and incorporates health information technology (HIT) as a tool to assist with outcome improvement.

The Safe Transitions Project furthers Rhode Island's leadership around care coordination, already evidenced by the Continuity of Care Form. The project focuses on patients’ discharge from the hospital to other care settings. It also promotes cross-setting communication, and ultimately aims to improve patients' transition experiences, self-management skills and outcomes.

Physician practices are an integral part of this project, as they provide care management to their patients with the goal of keeping them healthy and at home.

Healthcentric Advisors also works with practices to improve the detection and treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in patients with diabetes. We are proud to be one of 10 QIOs nationwide that was awarded a three-year contract from the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to focus on CKD, as well as one of 14 QIOs to be awarded a CMS contract focusing on Safe Transitions.

In the last 5 years we have expanded our knowledge base and expertise in EHR and HIT in the physician office. The HIT Advisors of Healthcentric Advisors provide medical practices on-site consultation, assisting in the implementation planning process, the maximization of the EHR for better outcomes, and the attainment of meaningful use status. We also assist physicians in the adoption process on the tools, techniques, and system improvements necessary to meet the ever-changing demands of the healthcare environment.