IMQ > WHAT WE DO > PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

arrow Consolidated Accreditation and Licensure Survey Program (CALS)

The CALS Program is a California program through which The Joint Commission, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ) jointly survey acute care hospitals for accreditation and licensure. IMQ surveys for compliance with Joint Commission medical staff standards and other standards that are the responsibility of the medical staff and for compliance with state licensing regulations. CALS surveyors also provide on-site peer review consultations. IMQ’s participation enables practicing physicians to take a leadership role in promoting quality care in hospital settings.

arrow Ambulatory Care Review Program

In California, the IMQ Ambulatory Program offers accreditation surveys and consultations for California outpatient settings, including those facilities (e.g. surgery centers, offices and medical groups) which are seeking compliance with AB-595. California law requires that solo practitioners, ambulatory surgery centers, medical offices, medical groups and other outpatient settings where anesthesia at the level of conscious sedation or higher is used, must be licensed by the state, certified by Medicare, or accredited by an entity approved by the Medical Board of California. The IMQ standards cover essential quality of care domains such as Administration, Personnel and Credentialing, Quality Management and Peer Review, Medical Records, Care and Treatment, Facility and Environmental Safety and Surgery, Anesthesia and Invasive Diagnostic Procedures. Surveys are conducted by physicians who practice, or have practiced, in ambulatory settings within the state. IMQ’s Ambulatory Program is also recognized in other states, and surveys are available nationwide.

arrow Corrections and Detentions Survey Program

The Corrections and Detentions Health Care Program provides voluntary accreditation of health services provided in adult and juvenile detention facilities. The standards are developed by the CDHCC to ensure they set realistic, practical and effective ways to comply with California Codes of Regulations, Title 15 in adult detention and juvenile facilities. The standards address administration, personnel, care and treatment, medical records and medical legal issues and serve as a guide to health providers and administrators in developing a health care delivery system and writing policies and procedures.
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arrow Continuing Medical Education Accreditation Program

CMA has been designated by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) as California’s intrastate accrediting agency. IMQ, on behalf of CMA, accredits approximately 350 California-based health care organizations to offer continuing medical education (CME) for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. IMQ also manages the CME activities for the California Medical Association and its non-profit affiliates, and offers consultation to CME providers. The primary goal of the CME Program is to ensure that CME activities are high quality and relevant to physician practices. IMQ’s CME program offers an annual Provider Conference, CME Essentials workshops, a quarterly newsletter, a website, webinars, and telephone and on-site consultation.

arrow Continuing Medical Education Certification Program

The IMQ Certification Program records and verifies Category 1 CME credit/hours for California licensed physicians to meet the Medical Board of California’s (MBC) requirements for re-licensure. By participating in this program, physicians are assured that they will not be required to undergo an independent audit of their CME activities by the MBC because participation in this program is recognized by the MBC as verification of physicians’ continuing medical education requirements for re-licensure.

arrow Cultural and Linguistic Competency Program

The California Endowment has provided support for IMQ to provide resources and consultation to CME providers to incorporate cultural and linguistic competency into the educational programs offered to California physicians. The grant also funds educational and training programs for physicians on integrating cultural and linguistic competency into their medical practices.

arrow Peer Review

IMQ’s Peer Review Consultation Program provides objective peer review of the clinical practice of one or more physician members of a medical staff. The focus of the service is educational and consultative. The intent is to help facilitate, but not substitute for, the formal medical staff peer review process which is mandated by California Law, Title 22 and the Joint Commission. This program is valuable to physicians and medical staffs who identify a need for a peer review by an outside, objective party. The best time to request a peer review consultation is when a concern regarding a physician’s care has been identified, but no formal actions have been taken, as the consultation is consultative and educational – not a formal part of a disciplinary proceeding. The consultation is a one-day, on-site visit by two experienced physicians, unaffiliated with the physician or hospital, who represent appropriate clinical specialties.

Educational & Consultation Programs

IMQ provides conferences and consultations on a range of issues, including medical ethics; effective medical staff leadership; handling disruptive physicians; quality and performance improvement; peer review; ambulatory, hospital and correctional facility accreditation; and continuing medical education.
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