Now is the Moment: National Quality Forum Statement on Racism, Equity, Justice and Nationwide Protests 

All of us at the National Quality Forum (NQF) are anguished to witness yet another Black life suffocated under police brutality. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and far too many others have long suffered from systemic racism in our country. As an organization, we stand in solidarity with the thousands of individuals in the District of Columbia and around the country who peacefully protest for the change we all so desperately need to see. Black lives matter.

Together with our members, public and private partners, community-based organizations, and patients, we have long worked to reduce health disparities. And yet, so much more remains to be done to achieve truly equitable care. Recent tragedies and nationwide protests have surfaced the systemic racism that persists within our society. The racial discrimination that our country’s Black Americans continue to face causes immeasurable harm and pain to our communities. We have seen firsthand how Black Americans and communities of color have been disproportionately affected by our country’s battle with the COVID-19 pandemic. The experiences and perspectives of the Black community and others facing racism are critical in addressing these challenges.

We are listening and searching for ways to be a more effective advocate for equity and fairness in America, not only in our work to promote safe, effective, and equitable care, but also as an employer, business, and corporate citizen. We recognize that there are ways in which the composition of our staff and many of our committees are not as representative of the viewpoints and perspectives of Black Americans and communities of color as they should be; this is critical as it speaks to the core mission and values of our organization. We are committed to directing more staff, leadership, and financial resources to amplifying underrepresented voices and supporting organizations that are leading efforts to create a more just and equitable community.

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About NQF
The National Quality Forum (NQF) works with members of the healthcare community to drive measurable health improvements together. NQF is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization that gives all healthcare stakeholders a voice in advancing quality measures and improvement strategies that lead to better outcomes and greater value. Learn more at www.qualityforum.org.