IQMH COVID-19 Response - Updated information

Updated: 2020-11-27

Originally published: 2020-03-16

IQMH has been operating as a virtual office since the physical office was closed in mid-March. Starting July 13, 2020, we gradually re-opened our physical office with a very limited number of staff on-site respecting health and safety guidelines by medical experts. The vast majority of IQMH staff have continued working from home during this early phase. With the current spike of cases in Ontario, and new measures by the province to flatten the curve, it’s prudent for us to limit and control the number of people in the office.

Please continue to use the following email contact information until further notice:

Proficiency Testing: [email protected]
Accreditation Canada Diagnostics (formerly IQMH Centre for Accreditation)[email protected]
Accreditation Canada Diagnostics Echocardiography Quality Improvement (EQI) Program (formerly IQMH EQI): [email protected]
Accreditation Canada Diagnostics Education (formerly IQMH Centre for Education): [email protected]

IQMH follows Public Health advice and will continue to maintain the following precautions to mitigate the risk of potential spread of COVID-19 until further notice:

  • Events and Meetings
    All events and meetings, including Scientific Committee and Advisory Panel meetings, will continue to be conducted remotely using phone or video conferencing and/or online communications.
     
  • Accreditation Visits
    We are resuming accreditation assessment activities as of October 26 using a revised approach. To the extent possible, we will be conducting assessments remotely in order to reduce the number of assessors on-site to as few as possible for the shortest time needed. You will be contacted by the Staff Technologist assigned to your assessment with specific details. Thank you for your continued cooperation at this difficult time.
     
  • Education Courses
    All in-person education courses, whether on site or off site, remain cancelled. Limited online classes may be made available in the future.
     
  • Proficiency Testing (PT) Surveys
    Currently all PT surveys continue, largely as scheduled.
     

With these precautionary measures and business contingency plans in place, please be assured that IQMH is doing all that we can to continue delivering services in a safe manner consistent with the latest Public Health advice and guidance.

Updates regarding IQMH’s response to COVID-19 will be communicated online at https://iqmh.org/COVID-19


Sincerely,

Jeffrey S. Sumner
IQMH President

 

Published: 2020-03-16

Updated: 2020-03-23

Updates regarding IQMH’s response to COVID-19 will be communicated online at www.iqmh.org

 

IQMH is currently in the process of moving to a completely virtual office.

Email Contact Information
Accreditation: [email protected]
Proficiency Testing: [email protected]
Education: [email protected] 

IQMH has been closely monitoring developments in relation to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak since it first emerged. We have a dedicated team assessing the situation, as it evolves, and leading our preparation and response.

With widespread community transmission of COVID-19 now likely underway in Canada, and following the advice of Canadian health authorities, IQMH has taken the following precautions to mitigate the risk of potential spread of COVID-19:

  • Events and Meetings
    All in-person events and meetings, including Scientific Committee and Advisory Panel meetings, whether inside or outside the IQMH offices will be conducted remotely using phone or video conferencing and/or online communications until further notice.
     
  • Accreditation Visits
    All on-site accreditation visits scheduled between now and the end of May 2020 are cancelled and will be rescheduled for later in the year, circumstances permitting. Further cancellations beyond May may be necessary and will be communicated as decisions are made in light of the prevailing circumstances.
     
  • Education Courses
    All education courses, whether on site or off site, are cancelled until further notice.
     
  • Proficiency Testing Surveys
    All proficiency testing surveys will continue, as scheduled, at this time. IQMH is working closely with Public Health to develop and implement a proficiency testing program for laboratories licensed to perform testing for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The first survey is expected to be shipped on or around April 13, 2020. Further details will be provided to those laboratories performing this testing as soon as more information becomes available.
     
  • IQMH Employees
    IQMH has implemented a work-from-home policy for all employees who can perform their functions remotely, and all business travel is suspended until further notice.

With these precautionary measures and business contingency plans in place, please be assured that IQMH is doing all that we can to continue delivering services in a safe manner consistent with latest advice and guidance.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this rapidly evolving, unprecedented event. 


Sincerely,

Jeff Sumner
IQMH President

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Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare

506–4711 Yonge Street
North York, ON
M2N 6K8

Phone: 416-323-9540 
Toll-free: 1-877-323-9540

Email: [email protected]

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