Descriptions

Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) is a private professional organization that promotes, develops, and encourages the development of principles, policies, and standards for continuing medical education. The website includes information on the ACCME accreditation process, a list of accredited providers, and a number of documents for an institution to evaluate their medical education program.

America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)
America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) was formed in 2004 as a merger of the American Assocation of Health Plans and the Health Insurance Association of America. AHIP is the national trade association representing nearly 1,300 member companies providing health insurance coverage to more than 200 million Americans. The website includes news and reports on AHIP activities, and documents covering over 50 topics in health care, insurance, and care management, categorized in an easy-to-use, issue-centric manner.

Association of Academic Health Centers (AHC)
The Association of Academic Health Centers (AHC) is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health of the people by advancing the leadership of academic health centers in health professions education, biomedical and health services research, and health care delivery. More than 100 academic health centers are currently members. The website includes a list of AHC publications, information on AHC programs and projects, a newsroom with current headlines, and information on meetings and conferences.

American Hospital Association (AHA)
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is the national organization that represents and serves all types of hospitals, health care networks, and their patients and communities. The website includes an extensive set of resources on financial, compliance, patient safety, staff relations, and other topics. The site also includes detailed studies and statistics about America's hospitals.

American Medical Group Association (AMGA)
The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) represents over 250 large medical groups and delivery systems throughout the United States. AMGA 's mission is to shape the health care environment by advancing high quality, cost-effective, patient-centered, and physician-directed health care. The website lists the results of AMGA research and projects, including several initiatives in Quality Management and Research.

DMAA: The Care Continuum Alliance
DMAA: The Care Continuum Alliance promotes the role of population health improvement in raising the quality of care, improving health outcomes and reducing preventable health care costs for people with chronic conditions and those at risk of developing chronic conditions. DMAA represents more than 200 corporate and individual stakeholders, including health plans, disease management organizations, health information technology innovators, employers, physicians, nurses and other health care professionals, researchers and academicians.

Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA)
The Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA) is a trade association whose 294 members provide health, long-term care, dental, disability, and supplemental coverage to more than 123 million Americans (June 2002). The website provides HIAA research and publications, self-study courses on health insurance and managed care, and consumer information.

Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is a not-for-profit organization involved in the improvement of health care systems through several programs and initiatives. The website features descriptions of programs and projects, reports, resources, conference listings, and links to quality-oriented organizations and websites.

The IPA Association of America
The IPA Association of America (TIPAA) is a trade association serving Independent/ Integrated Physician Associations (IPAs). TIPAAA is organized on a state chapter basis, with more than 880 member IPAs in 2001. The website includes TIPAAA news, free access to the TIPS newsletter and TIPAAA publications, and information on a wide range of products, services, and educational programs designed to help IPAs operate effectively and successfully in managed care.

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that evaluates and accredits 18,000 health care organizations and programs in the U.S. to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public. The website is divided into sections for health care organizations, the international community, the general public, and employers. It includes news and information, contacts for reporting complaints, and many other resources.

The Leapfrog Group
The Leapfrog Group, founded by The Business Roundtable, is a coalition of more than 100 companies and other public and private purchasers of health care benefits. It is a voluntary program aimed at mobilizing employer purchasing power to promote quality and safety in health care by rewarding hospitals and providers that initiate improvements in care. The website includes information on patient safety efforts, a "toolkit" to advise and help purchasers make health care spending decisions, and information on hospitals.

Massachusetts Health Data Consortium (MHDC)
The Massachusetts Health Data Consortium (MHDC) is a non-for-profit, private corporation, whose purpose is to collect data, publish comparative reports, and promote electronic standards for New England's key health care organizations. The website includes information about the Consortium and membership, products available from the Consortium, and information on conferences and seminars.

Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)
The Medical Group Management Association is the nation's principal voice for medical group practice. MGMA's 19,000 members manage and lead more than 10,200 organizations in which more than 200,000 physicians practice. MGMA assists members through information, education, networking and advocacy. Much of the website content is restricted to members, but some surveys and resources are posted or available for purchase.

National Association of Community Health Centers (NACPC)
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) is the national trade association serving and representing the interests of America's community health centers. Currently, NACHC represents more than 1,000 community-based health care organizations in all 50 states. The website includes news and information, a locator for health centers, schedules of training programs, and extensive links.

National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (NAPH)
The National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (NAPH) represents over 100 of America's safety net hospitals and health systems, serving all patients including the uninsured. The website includes free access to NAPH publications and journals, information on NAPH advocacy issues, NAPH news, information on professional development, and other information and resources.

National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of health care through quality oversight and improvement initiatives at all levels of the health care system. NCQA is the principal body for assessing and reporting on the quality of managed care organizations through performance measures such as the Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS). The website provides information on NCQA activities and presents public reports on the quality and performance of surveyed organizations.