SHOREVIEW, Minn., March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Allina Medical Clinic announced today that Steven C. Bergeson, M.D., was selected for the George W. Merck Fellowship Program by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in Cambridge, Mass. After an intensive seven-week preparatory program at the Harvard School of Public Health this summer, he will work with national leaders in health care improvement on key IHI initiatives.
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The focus of the program is to build a cadre of physician leaders who will challenge the status quo and drive care improvement, both nationally and within their sponsoring organizations.
"It is the opportunity of a lifetime to be able to interact on a daily basis with people involved in health care quality improvement in the best performing organizations across the U.S. and the world. Plus, I will have the chance to teach what we at Allina have learned in our care improvement activities," Bergeson says.
A valuable part of the prestigious fellowship is the development of a focused project for Allina Hospitals & Clinics. Upon completion of the fellowship, Bergeson will return to Minnesota to expand care improvement for persons with chronic illnesses, as well initiatives to improve the patient care experience across the Allina system.
"I will bring what I learn during this experience to help provide an even better care experience for our patients in the Twin Cities and beyond," he says.
Members of the Minnesota medical community collaborate with IHI and contribute valuable concepts for improving the quality and safety of medical care. The Institute of Medicine, IHI and other stakeholders have a framework for change that challenges many traditional methods, tools, and behaviors currently found in medical care and service. To achieve a higher level of health care quality, fundamental redesign is essential. To accomplish such transformation, the need for leadership in health care is urgent.
Bergeson has practiced family medicine at Allina Medical Clinic - Shoreview for 21 years. Formerly chief of staff of Children's Hospital - St. Paul, he has served on the boards of Children's Healthcare and United Hospital. He is a graduate of Bethel College, St. Paul, and a 1980 graduate of the Medical College of Virginia. A fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice, he is also a member of Alpha Omega Alpha and the Christian Medical and Dental Association.
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is a not-for-profit organization based in Cambridge, Mass. that helps accelerate change in health care by cultivating concepts for improving patient care.
Allina Medical Clinic employs more than 640 physicians and providers who deliver primary and specialty care at 42 locations in Minnesota. Part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, a non-profit network of hospitals, clinics and other health care services. Allina Medical Clinic can be found online at http://www.allinamedicalclinic.com/ and the latest health information is at http://www.allina.com/ .
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