Rhode Island Quality Institute (RIQI) today announced the appointment of Dr. Kathleen C. Hittner, Health Insurance Commissioner, State of Rhode Island, to its Board of Directors. Dr. Hittner will serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member.
“Dr. Hittner brings to the RIQI board a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the healthcare system in Rhode Island,” said Laura Adams, President and CEO, RIQI. “Her experiences as Health Insurance Commissioner, senior hospital executive, physician, medical researcher and clinical professor give her a unique perspective that will benefit our work to achieve the triple aim of better health, better healthcare and lower cost.”
Dr. Hittner retired in October 2012 from her two positions in the Lifespan System. She served as Senior Vice President of Community Health. In that role, she worked to attract and retain primary care physicians in Rhode Island and served as a liaison to community health centers and the physician community. In addition, Dr. Hittner served as Senior Vice President for Perioperative services for Lifespan. She was responsible for promoting operational efficiency, quality, safety and high performance in the operating rooms throughout the system. Previously, she was the President and CEO of The Miriam Hospital.
“One of the key areas of defined focus for the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner is a dedication to improving the healthcare system’s quality, accessibility and affordability.” said Hittner. “RIQI is an organization that is working toward this goal through collaborative efforts that involve every major healthcare stakeholder in the state. RIQI’s initiatives are producing measurable improvements in quality, safety and efficiency of care and I look forward to contributing to these efforts.”
Dr. Hittner has been on the faculty of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University since 1979, where she is currently Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology in the Department of Surgery. She was the recipient of the School of Medicine’s “Distinguished Teacher Award” in 2000 and 2004.
About Rhode Island Quality Institute
RIQI is a center of collaborative innovation that advances health and healthcare transformation. Our mission is to improve the quality, safety and value of healthcare and share knowledge that advances the field of healthcare improvement.
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RIQI is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 2001 and overseen by a Board of Directors comprised of senior health industry leaders from our community, including CEOs of hospitals, health insurers and health-related businesses, along with leaders of consumer groups, academia and government agencies. For more information, visit www.riqi.org.
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