We are a trusted, neutral convener of health care providers, payers, and local and federal partners focused on improving outcomes, affordability, and experience. We are home to the Robert Bree Collaborative, the Washington Patient Safety Coalition, four Care Outcomes Assessment Programs (COAPs) and Smooth Transitions.

We were founded in 1988 to provide an independent review of a Community Health Information Management System. This early work helped to advance information technology for health care. We have grown to include both long and short-term projects and programs ranging from use of comparison quality standards by consumers to supporting public health agencies in the surveillance of sudden health risks.

Ginny Weir, MPH, serves as Chief Executive Officer. She served as Director of the Bree Collaborative since late 2013, growing the scope of work and role in the community. She received her Masters in Public Health from the University of Washington and a BA in Psychology from the University of California at Berkeley. She serves as a  Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Services at the University of Washington, School of Public Health and works to build both an equity and life-course perspective into the FHCQ’s work.

Our Programs

The Robert Bree Collaborative develops guidelines to support the core principles of appropriateness of care and evidence-based practice. The Washington State Legislature established the Bree in 2011 to provide a forum for public and private health care stakeholders to work together to improve quality, appropriateness, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness of care in Washington State. Subject matter experts and key stakeholders convene in workgroups, which produce recommendations that inform healthcare purchasing and set a standard of care for Washington State Health Care Authority. The Bree Collaborative has published reports and recommendations many important issues in healthcare including cardiovascular surgery, spine surgery, opioid use, obstetrics, oncology care, LGBTQ care and other areas where there is an opportunity for improvement.

The Washington Patient Safety Coalition (WPSC)  was conceived in 2001 in response to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s publication “To Err is Human.” The WPSC unites a diverse range of healthcare stakeholders to achieve common patient safety goals. A member-based program of 40+ organizations representing healthcare systems, associations, and advocacy groups across the state of Washington. Patients, employers, clinics, hospitals, insurers and others, attend its annual statewide conference.

Our Care Outcomes Assessment Programs (COAPs) are dedicated to a specific clinical specialties and are unique in that they are clinician-led and driven by successful data-driven collaboration. The COAPs have proven incredibly effective at promoting changes that result in improved quality and patient safety and reduced variability in process and outcomes. These collaboratives use chart-abstracted data from medical and surgical services to provide member hospitals with the data they need to drive continual improvement of health care that meets or exceeds established standards.  

• Cardiac Care Outcomes Assessment Program (COAP)  
• Surgical Care Outcomes Assessment Program (SCOAP) 
• Spine Care Clinical Outcomes Assessment Program (Spine COAP)   
• Obstetrical Care Outcomes Assessment Program (OB COAP)  

Provider-specific, chart-abstracted data serve as the basis for analysis and discussion within and across participating institutions. COAPs provide an opportunity to participate in regional learning collaboratives that give providers an active role in the quality improvement process. The ability to discuss and learn from others’ experiences create opportunities for actionable and sustainable improvements to reduce variation. By having access to accurate, nearly current clinical data, participants can respond to and facilitate changes that address issues with both quality and resource use components.

Smooth Transitions is a Washington state-based quality improvement program enhancing the safety of hospital transfers between home or freestanding birth centers. They bring together community midwives, hospital providers and staff, and EMS personnel to build a collaborative model of care that puts birthing families at the center. They offer presentations throughout Washington State and provide direct support to participating hospitals, and are available to consult with perinatal collaboratives and organizations in other states interested in replicating this work.

Governance

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors composed of industry professionals with significant expertise in understanding issues important to patients, physicians, employees, insurance plans, health policy analysts, hospitals, and government agencies.The Board provides oversight and guides the strategic direction of Foundation activities. 

Day-to-day activities, program management, conferences, forums, and regional meetings are conducted by a dedicated team of staff and advisory committees.

Funding

The Foundation funds its activities through contracts, grants, and memberships.