Getting the Most From Your Membership
There are a wide variety of ways for you and your organization to get the most from membership in the National Quality Forum, including:
Voting on Candidate Consensus Standards
Voting is a vital part of the consensus development process and is also an important opportunity for NQF members to voice their informed opinions about a candidate consensus standard. The votes cast by NQF members provide guidance to the Consensus Standard Approval Committee in its evaluation of candidate consensus standards. NQF members can cast their vote for or against a candidate consensus standard during the 15-day voting period. The beginning and end of voting periods are announced on NQF’s website and via member emails.
Providing Expertise
Steering Committees
At the beginning of a consensus development project, NQF issues a call for nominations for the project’s Steering Committee. While any interested party can submit one or more nominations for a Steering Committee, the membership of the Committee is selected by NQF so as to reflect the diversity of NQF membership. Generally, a Steering Committee will be composed of individuals affiliated with NQF member organizations, unless a necessary perspective or specific expertise is not available within NQF’s membership.
Commenting on Candidate Consensus Standards
As part of the consensus development process, NQF members and the public have the opportunity to provide comments on candidate consensus standards. These comments help NQF determine if a consensus standard is feasible, usable, scientifically acceptable and important. NQF members can submit comments during a 30-day comment period.
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Taking Advantage of Leadership Opportunities
If you are interested in taking on a leadership role as part of your NQF membership, there are multiple opportunities for you to share your experience and expertise with your peers, including:
Member Council Leadership
NQF’s eight Member Councils are each led by a chair and vice-chair, who are elected by the Council membership. The Council leadership guides the work of each individual council, and meets regularly as a group to consider membership’s engagement with core programmatic areas.
Leadership Network
This 12 member group is made up of the eight Member Council Chairs and four at-large positions, and meets regularly via phone, e-mail and in person to provide guidance on NQF’s educational activities including conferences, colloquia and issue briefs.
Consensus Standards Approval Committee (CSAC)
The CSAC is a standing committee appointed by the Board of Directors to evaluate candidate consensus standards for NQF endorsement. The CSAC’s evaluation is informed by the recommendations of expert committees, the comments submitted by NQF members and the general public, and the results of voting by the NQF membership.
Board of Directors
NQF is governed by a 27-member Board of Directors comprised of key public and private sector leaders with representation of all major stakeholder groups. Consumers and purchasers hold a simple majority of the at-large seats. Board members serve three-year terms. Three seats on the Board of Directors are reserved for the directors of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the National Institutes of Health.
If you are interested in pursuing a leadership role within the NQF membership, please contact us at members@qualityforum.org.
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Conducting Peer-to-Peer Networking with Healthcare Leaders
NQF members are encouraged to take full advantage of the networking opportunities afforded by participation in NQF’s many Steering Committee meetings, conferences, and colloquia held each year. The content of these events is shaped by input and feedback from NQF members. NQF’s annual events include the:
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Participating in Member Conference Calls
NQF members can connect with other healthcare leaders on a more informal basis through monthly all-member conference calls and regular Council conference calls.
All-Member Conference Calls
These monthly conference calls are open exclusively to NQF members. During each all-member call, NQF staff provide updates on active consensus development projects, ongoing NQF activities, and upcoming events. The calls offer participating members the opportunity to engage directly with NQF staff and with one another in discussions about NQF’s work.
Council-Specific Calls
Each of NQF’s eight Member Councils holds a monthly or bimonthly conference call. While the schedule for these calls is accessible to the public, participation on the calls is limited to members of an individual council. Each call is moderated by the Council’s chair and vice-chair and is supported by NQF staff. On these calls, discussions of NQF’s work in general and the Council’s role in that work in particular are focused through the lens of the individual stakeholder Council.
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