Patients and families have the potential to be one of the most powerful forces driving improvement in our healthcare system. Quality Quest for Health of Illinois is working to make sure people have information to help them get excellent healthcare. The healthcare they need and deserve. We're on a quest to improve healthcare and you can help.

The Healthy Lifestyles School Project originated in the summer of 2009 with the goal of promoting healthy lifestyle choices among students and families at Garfield Primary School, Trewyn Middle School and Manual High School in Peoria.  The Full Service Community Schools (FSCS) Advisory Council proposed the project to Quest and a team was assembled.  Team members included a wide variety of local stakeholders:  school principals and staff, local government officials, youth, health and community focused non-profits, parents, nutritionists, medical experts, and local businesses.

So what exactly is this new “Patient Centered Medical Home” (PCMH) and why has it become  the new buzzword for healthcare reform? Matter of fact, it is mentioned at least 15 times in the recent healthcare reform legislation.  Recognizing that having access to primary care is the key to improving healthcare outcomes, everyone from payers, purchasers, physicians and patients are hoping that the medical home will improve quality and drive down healthcare costs.

A substantial part of reducing waste in healthcare can be accomplished through widespread institution of electronic health records (EHRs). Too often, tests and procedures are repeated on patients because the providers do not have records of what care the patient has already had. This kind of unnecessary care makes up more than $500 billion every year that, with EHRs, could be cut out of healthcare spending. EHRs are also useful in tracking both long- and short-term care schedules, keeping providers and patients aware of when procedures like mammograms, colonoscopies, and diabetes-related tests need to be done.

At Quality Quest, we are committed to advancing a high-quality, patient-centered, and cost-effective healthcare system.  We believe it is critical for community members to work together on shared health-related priorities.  We also believe it is important to engage consumers to take more responsibility for their own health and work as partners with their healthcare providers.