Kaiser gives $8 million to IHI

ORLANDO, Fla.—Kaiser Permanente today announced that it is setting up an $8 million endowment to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement to fund scholarship programs.

Kaiser officials say that the scholarships will allow healthcare professionals to attend IHI programs, such as the 16th National Forum on Quality Improvement in Healthcare, taking place here this week. IHI, which just moved its headquarters to Cambridge, Mass., offers conferences and training in patient safety, access to care, patient satisfaction and other quality-related issues.

Tomorrow, IHI CEO Donald Berwick, M.D., will join representatives from other public- and private-sector organizations to announce a new national campaign to save lives in U.S. hospitals. Details are embargoed until 11 a.m. EST Tuesday. Check Health-IT World News for my coverage of that announcement.