At the recent NCQA Health Innovation Summit, a remarkable event took place where industry leaders came together to explore ways of advancing healthcare quality through data solutions. This summit served as a platform for diverse leaders and innovators to collaborate and address crucial aspects such as value-based care, health equity, digital quality solutions, and behavioral health.

Uniting for Healthcare Quality at the NCQA Summit

Connecting Through Superpowers

The industry leader at the NCQA's Health Innovation Summit emphasized the extraordinary power of connecting with each other. This summit, with its diverse participants, aimed to bring together leaders and innovators around a common goal of enhancing healthcare quality. As seen at the 2024 summit, various topics were addressed, including value-based care and health equity.One panel, "Women in Quality," provided unique perspectives from five female healthcare leaders. Guzman moderated the discussion, highlighting the importance of community, leadership, and personal growth. Key themes like integrity, trust, and personal stories were emphasized.O'Kane, as the leader of NCQA, not only accredits health plans but also patient-centered medical homes, with a focus on quality and health equity.

Embodying Leadership and Integrity

The panel started with a crucial question about embodying leadership. O'Kane simply stated that showing up is key after 34 years in the job. The panel's insights included remembering that every day is a job interview, acting with integrity even when unobserved, leaning into personal traits to influence leadership style, leading with purpose, curiosity, and integrity, and balancing personal and professional roles.

Using the "Kitchen Table"

The concept of the "kitchen table" was discussed, emphasizing the importance of support networks. Guzman asked about the significance of the kitchen table and how it supports core values. O'Kane highlighted the superpower of women in connecting with each other and shared an example from another NCQA HIS panel. Harris' work on enhancing access to diabetes digital therapeutics showed the impact of data and personal connection. This example demonstrated how one can forget one's ego and focus on a greater cause.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Building and leading a culture of quality, equity, and trust can be intimidating, especially for women who often struggle with imposter syndrome. The panel discussed how to overcome this, with responses ranging from leveraging unique perspectives to creating peer mentoring groups. O'Kane emphasized the importance of trust in building culture and the need to address the widespread contemptuous distrust in society.

Final Thoughts

The NCQA HIS session concluded with key takeaways for the audience. These included doing homework and asking specific questions when seeking mentorship, embracing one's power and creating paths for others, and being conscious of living in one's truth and the impact of simple acts of kindness. O'Kane's powerful answer to the final question emphasized the importance of living in all aspects of life and not being limited by work.Laura Beerman, a freelance writer for HealthLeaders, was present to capture these important insights.