February 17, 2005

Michigan Department of Community Health Director Janet OIszewski will serve on the board of directors of a nationally renowned health care quality organization that strives to improve the American health care system.

“As a member of the NQF board, Janet will bring her breadth of experience and knowledge of health care management to a national setting,” said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. “Her experience with managing Michigan’s Medicaid system will be critical as the NQF develops solutions to improve health care for all Americans.”

Olszewski will represent state Medicaid directors on the Board of Directors of the National Quality Forum (NQF). She was elected unanimously. Olszewski attended her first meeting of the Forum on February 7 in Washington, D.C.

MDCH, created in 1996, consolidated portions of the former Department of Public Health with the Department of Mental Health and the Medical Services Administration. The Office of Drug Control Policy, the Office of Services to the Aging and the Crime Victims Services Commission were subsequently consolidated with MDCH.

Olszewski, of Williamston, is a long-time health care executive for the State of Michigan. She was appointed MDCH Director by Granholm, effective on January 1, 2003.

The National Quality Forum is a private, not-for-profit membership organization created to develop and implement a national strategy for healthcare quality measurement and reporting. The mission of the NQF is to improve American healthcare through endorsement of consensus-based national standards for measurement and public reporting of healthcare performance data that provide meaningful information about whether care is safe, timely, beneficial, patient-centered, equitable and efficient.

More information about the NQF can be found on the web at www.qualityforum.org.