#USA #ABQAURP #New Port Richey #Karen Clark #CHCQM Award

ABQAURP Honors Dr. Karen Clark with the 2025 CHCQM Diplomate Achievement Award

The American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians (ABQAURP) has announced the esteemed designation of Dr. Karen Clark, MD, MACP, FRCP, CHCQM-PHYADV, as the winner of the 2025 CHCQM Diplomate Achievement Award. This recognition underscores Dr. Clark's remarkable impact on health care quality management, driven by her significant role in enhancing patient safety and hospital resource utilization.

A Leader in Health Care Quality

Dr. Clark serves as the Medical Director of Utilization Management and Physician Advisory Services at the West Virginia University Health System. Additionally, she is a respected Professor of Medicine in the Internal Medicine Department of WVU Medicine. Her leadership has been pivotal in advancing programs that promote more efficient and safe patient care.

One of her noteworthy contributions is her leadership of the Complex Care Plans for High Utilizers pilot program at WVUH. This initiative is a collaborative effort involving interdisciplinary teams and physician advisors, aimed at managing the overuse of emergency department services while preventing adverse outcomes. The results have been substantial, marked by high acceptance rates among hospital staff and physicians.

Goals and Achievements

The primary objectives of Dr. Clark's project are multifaceted, focusing on:

• - Improving communication among healthcare providers,
• - Streamlining patient care,
• - Enhancing patient safety,
• - Reducing service utilization, and
• - Controlling healthcare costs.

Patients with high utilization of medical services often face risks from fragmented care and standardized protocols that might not suit their complex needs. Dr. Clark's team addresses these challenges while emphasizing patient safety. Evidence of success includes:

• - A 63% reduction in annual patient admissions from an average of 12.1 to 3.3,
• - A 76% decrease in readmissions, from 10.5 to 2.5 per patient,
• - An annual reduction in emergency department visits by 28%, from 11.7 to 8.4 visits,
• - A dramatic 64% reduction in radiology procedures, from 25 to 9 per patient yearly,
• - Additionally, they achieved a 3% increase in completed outpatient visits and a significant reduction in cancelled appointments and no-shows.

These statistics are not just numbers; they represent a substantial improvement in health outcomes for patients who previously faced countless barriers to effective care. Dr. Clark's team's efforts have resulted in direct hospital cost savings, totaling approximately $4.2 million over one year for patients who participated in the program.

A Message from Dr. Clark

In receiving the CHCQM Diplomate Achievement Award, Dr. Clark expressed her gratitude by stating, “I am honored to receive the 2025 CHCQM Diplomate Achievement Award. The WVU Hospital Complex Care Plan project has been a multidisciplinary, team effort from inception, and I happily accept the award on behalf of all who have participated.” She emphasized the significance of individualized care plans that respond effectively to the needs of high-utilizing patients, particularly in rural areas where healthcare access can be limited.

Dr. Clark further noted, “Our approach has led not only to reduced utilization but also improved patient safety, a win-win for both patients and healthcare providers. This award validates our team's vital work.”

Looking Ahead

ABQAURP extends heartfelt thanks to Dr. Clark, her team, and every nominee for their contributions to health care quality and patient safety. As a testament to this success, attendees at the upcoming 2025 Annual Conference will have the opportunity to learn more about Dr. Clark's program and celebrate the achievements of Diplomates in the field.

The award ceremony is scheduled for September 12, 2025, at ABQAURP's Annual Conference. For those interested in learning more, details are available at ABQAURP's official website.

About ABQAURP

Founded in 1977, the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians (ABQAURP) is an international association comprising health care professionals dedicated to the mission of improving health care quality through education, certification, and professional development.