Fletcher Allen Announces the “Senator James M. Jeffords Institute for Quality”

BURLINGTON, VT – Fletcher Allen Health Care, the Vermont Medical Society, and the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems held a special event tonight honoring United States Senator James M. Jeffords for his contributions to health care in Vermont and at the national level during his 32 years in office.

At the ceremony, which was attended by Senator Jeffords and held in Fletcher Allen’s ambulatory care center, Fletcher Allen also dedicated the “Senator James M. Jeffords Institute for Quality” in honor of the retiring senator.

“Throughout Senator Jeffords’ 32 years of service to Vermont in Washington, he has been a leader in the effort to promote and develop programs to improve patient safety and the quality of the nation’s health care,” said Melinda Estes, M.D., president and chief executive officer at Fletcher Allen. “I can think of no finer way for Fletcher Allen to honor Jim Jeffords, than to name our quality institute in his honor.”

 Established in 2004 by Dr. Estes as the Institute for Quality and Organizational Effectiveness, the institute embodies Fletcher Allen’s commitment to making health care quality and patient safety the number one priority of the organization.  The institute coordinates performance improvement activities across the organization to ensure that the care Fletcher Allen provides is of the highest possible quality and is provided in the safest possible manner.

Text of commemorative plaque

The ceremony included the unveiling of a free-standing plaque commemorating the naming of the Jeffords Institute for Quality. The six-foot tall plaque will be located in the main lobby of the Ambulatory Care Center.  The inscription reads:

The Institute for Quality and Operational Effectiveness at Fletcher Allen Health Care is named in honor of U.S. Senator James Merrill Jeffords of Vermont, for his leadership in promoting health care quality and patient safety during his 32 years of service to Vermont in Washington.

Senator Jeffords was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1974, where he served seven terms.  In 1988, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served three six-year terms.

Throughout his tenure, Senator Jeffords worked to improve the quality and safety of our system of health care in this country.

He served as chairman on the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and played a leadership role in every major health care initiative to come before Congress, including FDA reform, the creation of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Patient Bill of Rights, Medicare reform, medical records privacy, quality and patient safety, tobacco cessation and other efforts.

During this period, Senator Jeffords brought specific attention to the issue of quality and patient safety in health care, and he was instrumental in the enactment of several initiatives in this area.  With the reauthorization of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, he ensured that the federal government works in partnership with physicians and hospitals to improve care for patients.  And through his Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005, he sought to remove the blame in the reporting of medical errors – and encourage physicians and hospitals to learn from their mistakes, leading to further improvements.

Senator Jeffords’ work in this area helped to bring the issues of quality improvement and patient safety to national attention, resulting in safer conditions and better care for patients both in Vermont and throughout the country.

With this tribute, Fletcher Allen Health Care salutes this gifted leader, his values, his vision, his tireless work to help those in need – and thanks him for all that he has done to support this organization over the years.

May his great work be remembered, and cherished, within these walls and by all who pass through these doors.