The Joint Commission appointed David W. Baker, MD, the executive vice president for the Division of Healthcare Quality Evaluation.
Dr. Baker will oversee the Departments of Quality, Health Services Research and Standards and Survey Methods. He'll also oversee:
• Biostatistics and data analysis activities
• Public performance measurement data reporting
• Developing, implementing and maintaining performance measures used in the accreditation and certification programs
Here are five things to know about the new appointment:
1. Dr. Baker joined the Joint Commission today. The organization conducted a nationwide search after the previous executive, Jerod Loeb, PhD, died in October 2013.
2. Dr. Baker has been the chief of the division of general internal medicine and geriatrics at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University as well as deputy director of its Institute for Public Health and Medicine.
3. Throughout his career, Dr. Baker has experience with creating Northwestern's first practice-based research network.
4. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Baker chairs the American College of Physicians' Performance Measurement Committee and is a representative to the Measures Application Partnership Coordinating Committee.
5. He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and is a frequent speaker at research and policy meetings.
"[Dr. Baker's] national prominence in healthcare quality measurement is especially notable," said President and CEO of The Joint Commission Mark R. Chassin, MD. "His leadership ensures that Joint Commission accreditation will continue to reflect the highest level of commitment to quality and patient safety."