Earlier this month, Frontier faculty and students attended the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) annual National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care in Orlando, Fla., where they had the opportunity to network with nearly 6,000 health care professionals and voice their ideas about improving health care quality and safety.

The three-day conference featured four keynote presentations, more than 100 workshops, a full exhibit hall, a national forum bookstore, quality improvement storyboards, and numerous opportunities for networking, including special interest breakfasts.​​​​ Attendees were encouraged to “practice what you preach,” and even walked on treadmills during the keynote sessions.

The most exciting part of the weekend was when FNU students were recognized as "QI Project Role Models" by the IHI Open School for their health care quality improvement efforts in their communities. The IHI Open School is a global learning community, that offers online education, local Chapters, and guided improvement projects.

FNU alumni Dr. Cynthia McCullough, CNM, CDNP Class 1 and Dr. Jessica Blount WHNP, CDNP Class 1 presented their DNP projects via storyboard presentations at the conference. Dr. Shari Long Romero CNM, CDNP Class 1 was also recognized for her exemplary clinical scholarship.  

FNU launched an IHI Open School Chapter in 2016 which brings together students with a shared interest in improving care for patients.  FNU’s Open School Chapter hosted a Story Slam  event in October focused on addressing the opioid crisis as part of RightCare Action Week. View the Story Slam recording here which featured three speakers to tell their story in addressing the opioid crisis.

The IHI Forum was a great opportunity for FNU faculty and students to join a national discussion on improving health care! For more information on IHI, go here.