BookingAir

To: NATIONAL EDITORS

Contact: Karla Hurter, +1-703-319-0957, khurter@health2resources.com, for URAC

Joann Genovich-Richards, Ph.D., MBA, RN is vice president of research and measurement

WASHINGTON, March 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today URAC announced it has appointed Joann Genovich-Richards, Ph.D., MBA, RN, to serve as the organizations first vice president of research and measurement. The position will support the development of capabilities and staff resources to better mine and analyze existing data from accredited companies and other sources and to develop new URAC measurement programs. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030501/URACLOGO )

URAC is the Washington, D.C.-based independent accreditor which offers more than 20 accreditation and certification programs along the continuum of care. Currently URAC accredits more than 400 health care management organizations operating in all 50 states. Genovich-Richards will be the key thought leader of URACs efforts to define industry measurement needs and opportunities, which will result in the development of products that differentiate the services offered by health care management companies.

The initial goal of URACs metrics offerings is to provide additional information to accredited companies to enable them to benchmark their accreditation evaluations, operational performance and service delivery against industry norms.

We believe that enhanced benchmarking will further promote URAC's focus on continuous quality improvements, said Alan P. Spielman, URACs president and CEO. This will also create the foundation for future programs that would provide public reporting to assist purchasers and consumers in making key health care decisions. The metrics program is aligned with URAC's strategic focus on improving health care management and empowering consumers.

Over the course of her career, Genovich-Richards has served in senior executive roles developing structures, teams and resources related to clinical services, strategic improvement, clinical process improvement and care design, and quality and resource management. She was the first lay trustee for the Sisters of St. Joseph Health System in Ann Arbor, Mich. (now part of the Ascension Health System) and served on the board of the Easter Seals of Southeast Michigan.

Genovich-Richards has worked with a wide range of health care industry stakeholders including the National Committee for Quality Assurance, the Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research (now the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality), CareScience, the National Business Coalition on Health and the Presbyterian Health System in Dallas. Her extensive experience includes work with hospital and health systems, managed care oversight and delivery organizations, community behavioral health providers, pharmaceutical companies, academic and private medical practices, and policy and research initiatives at both the state and federal levels.

She earned her doctorate in health services organization and policy and bachelors degree in nursing from the University of Michigan. She also holds a masters degree in nursing from Wayne State University in Detroit and a masters in business administration from Oakland University in Rochester, Mich.

Genovich-Richards is currently the editor-in-chief for the Journal for Healthcare Quality. She is the author of more than 20 articles for peer-reviewed journals addressing quality, active listening to customers, and organizational issues. She is a member of AARPs National Policy Council assigned to the Health and Long Term Care Committee.

About URAC

URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is well-known as a leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation and education programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire health care industry. For more information, visit www.urac.org.

SOURCE URAC

-0-