Press Releases

A Healthy Practice is a Healthy Business:
Conventus Partners with Healthcare Quality Strategies (HQSI) for EHR Services

(Woodbridge, NJ) August 23, 2010 – Conventus Inter-Insurance Exchange is happy to announce its partnership with Healthcare Quality Strategies, Inc. (HQSI). Through this joint venture, Conventus is proud to bring yet another member-value benefit program by linking our member-owners to a trusted source for information, guidance, and technical assistance with the adoption and implementation of electronic health record (EHR) systems.

"We strongly believe that Healthcare Quality Strategies, Inc. is an organization with the right expertise needed to assist our member-owners during this difficult time of transitioning to electronic health record systems," said Susan Lieberman, MBA, Vice President, Risk Management of Conventus. "We are thrilled to be able to offer the opportunity for free EHR project management and consultation services to Conventus members in certain primary care specialties who wish assistance in EHR selection, implementation and/or meaningful use qualification for federal monies."

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus package provides incentives for healthcare providers that attain the level of "meaningful use" of their electronic health record (EHR) systems. In the legislative language, to be an eligible provider (EP) for Medicare or Medicaid incentives, providers must use a certified EHR system in a meaningful manner, exchange health information to improve the quality of care (through a health information exchange if available), and report on clinical quality measures. To earn incentives and avoid penalties, providers should meet these requirements by 2015, although those who are successful by 2011 and 2012 will earn the largest incentives. Meaningful use is being rolled out using a phased approach, in three stages, which will be updated over time.

"With this latest partnership, we are pleased to continue forward in our goal to offer valuable and timely member services," stated Lyn W. Winters, President and Chief Underwriting Officer, Conventus Inter-Insurance Exchange. "We are excited to bring Healthcare Quality Strategies, Inc. to our members because it is consistent with our philosophy to help physicians be efficient and effective in their practices while promoting patient safety."

About Healthcare Quality Strategies, Inc. (HQSI)
HQSI offers healthcare providers a source for information, guidance, and technical assistance with the adoption and implementation of electronic health record (EHR) systems. HQSI has the experience of working successfully with approximately 200 primary care physicians in New Jersey, helping them reach the EHR system goals they've identified for their practices.

About Conventus
Conventus Inter-Insurance Exchange is the only medical professional liability insurance company in New Jersey that is 100% owned and governed by its physician members. Formed in response to New Jersey’s medical professional liability insurance crisis, Conventus is a non-assessable reciprocal insurance exchange that is managed by experts in the property and casualty insurance industry. Its management team has extensive experience in medical professional liability insurance and in managing underwriting results for companies like Conventus.