Hitinder Gurm, M.D., Shares Insight Into Award-Winning Quality Initiative And His Role As Chief Medical Officer
Hitinder Gurm, M.D. is an interventional cardiologist, Michigan Medicine’s chief medical officer, and the director of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium (BMC2). BMC2 is one of 22 Collaborative Quality Initiatives (CQIs) sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield.
The consortium is made up of health care providers at facilities across the State of Michigan who are dedicated to improving quality of care and outcomes for cardiovascular patients. BMC2’s work impacts nearly 30,000 patients treated by hundreds of physicians from more than 100 hospital teams each year.
BMC2 is comprised of three multi-center quality improvement registries:
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)
- Vascular surgery
- Transcatheter valve repair/replacement – the Michigan Structural Heart Consortium (MISHC)
The collaborative also includes the Michigan Cardiac Rehab Network, a collaboration with the Michigan Value Collaborative (MVC), another CQI.
The consortium’s collaboration and open sharing of challenges and successes between participating facilities is unique to the State of Michigan. BMC2 provides educational opportunities, performs peer reviews to look at procedure appropriateness and quality, and works with a Patient Advisory Council to learn how to better serve the patients in its care. This all leads to better care for patients not only in Michigan, but nationally and globally.
The State of Michigan recently recognized BMC2’s “innovative spirit and unwavering dedication” as a pioneer in cardiovascular care in a special tribute signed by State Rep. Carrie Rheingans; State Sen. Sue Shink; Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, II and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
The tribute reads in part, “BMC2’s collaborative spirit has united hospitals, physicians, and care teams, leading to the exchange of best practices and the formation of a cohesive learning network, optimizing statewide quality and safety in Michigan.”
In February, BMC2 received the prestigious 2023 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award in the Local Level Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality category. The award is presented annually by The Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum. BMC2 was recognized for documenting and decreasing radiation use and reducing opioid pill prescribing.
The awards panel was inspired by BMC2’s inclusive scope across so many clinicians, physicians, teams, and sites, acknowledging the collaborative is “working to improve care, at every institution, and for every patient. It’s remarkable.”
Gurm recently discussed these awards, and much more, on the latest episode of The Wrap employee podcast. Check it out below or find an audio-only version here.
Support for BMC2 is provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network as part of the BCBSM Value Partnerships program.
Although Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and BMC2 work collaboratively, the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of BCBSM or any of its employees.
Further, BCBSM does not have access to BMC2 data, and all patient episodes occurring at engaged hospitals are included in the data registries, regardless of payer.
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