Western New York

Western New York loves ... wings, waterfalls and wonderful health care!

Leadership Team: P² Collaborative of Western New York
Web site: www.p2wny.org
Phone: (716) 228-8459
Fax: (716) 631-2962

Program contact: Shelley Hirshberg
Phone: (716) 228-8459
E-mail: shelley@p2wny.org

The P² Collaborative of Western New York (P² Collaborative) leads the area's Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) initiative. The mission of this nonprofit organization is to improve the health of people in Western New York by empowering patients to maintain healthy lifestyles, ensuring access to the highest quality of care and promoting the implementation of proven practices in medicine. Incorporated in 2002, the P² Collaborative facilitates the development of a community-wide standard for the promotion of wellness and initiates dialogue with government leadership to promote policy change. The organization includes a 12-person board of directors that represents the three major health plans in the area, health care providers, consumer advocates, businesses, labor organizations, the media, faith-based organizations, the education community and a university medical school.

The P² Collaborative's AF4Q initiative aims to 1) educate the Western New York community about the importance of health care quality and how consumers (particularly those with diabetes) can take a proactive role; 2) engage the community to incorporate the most up-to-date best practices in treating patients suffering from diabetes and related conditions; 3) create a platform for consumers with diabetes to report on the quality of care they receive; and 4) disseminate resources to diabetes educators, consumers, providers, employers and health plans.

Aligning Forces for Quality communities

In 14 communities throughout the country, Aligning Forces for Quality seeks to lift the quality of health and health care by teaming up with those who get care, give care and pay for care. Explore what our communities are doing to improve health care quality.

Our areas of focus

Aligning Forces for Quality applies a wealth of resources, expertise and training to effect real results in health care quality. Take a closer look at the focuses of our work:

Hear what colleagues and health care experts around the country, including Craig Brammer, Diane Giese and Marshall Chin, have learned about improving health care quality and reducing racial and ethnic disparities in care.