What is Aligning Forces for Quality —
South Central PA?
Aligning Forces for Quality – South Central Pennsylvania (AF4Q – South Central PA) is a multi-stakeholder regional coalition. Since its inception in 2007, we've been bringing together York and Adams counties' patients, doctors' offices, hospitals, community organizations, employers, and insurers to one table to address health care quality, access and cost in South Central PA.
We work together with everyone who gets care, gives care and pays for care to improve the quality of health care in our community. It's a local issue; a national issue; it's everyone's issue. Take a few minutes and watch our video to learn more.
What are our goals?
In partnership with stakeholders and leaders, we continue to implement new programs and activities for patients, providers, employers and community organizations. Through current and new initiatives, we will:
- Help physicians improve the quality of care they provide.
- Assist with improving care inside our local hospitals.
- Provide more tools and resources to engage the community.
- Educate patients on how to better partner and engage with their providers.
- Work towards reducing inequalities found in care for patients.
- Help increase access to care.
Who are our partners?
We are a collaboration of community leaders, employers, health care providers, insurers, business executives and patients. In order for our initiative to be successful in making real and positive changes, everyone needs to work together.
Thank you to all of our partners. We appreciate your help with this important initiative!
Following is a list of area organizations involved in our effort.
- Adams-Hanover Counseling Services, Inc.
- AmeriHealth Mercy
- Capital Blue Cross
- Center for Community Engagement
- Center for Opinion Research
- Family First Health
- Gettysburg Hospital
- Glatfelter
- Graham Group
- Harley-Davidson Motor Company
- Hanover Hospital
- Healthy Adams County
- Healthy York County Coalition
- Healthy York Network
- Highmark
- Improving Performance
in Practice, PA - Manufacturers Association
of South Central PA - Memorial Hospital
- Pediatric Care of York
- Pinchot Family Medicine
- Snyder's of Hanover
- SOUTH CENTRAL Preferred
- Suasion
- Susan P. Byrnes
Health Education Center - United Way of York County
- WellSpan Health
- York City Bureau of Health
- York County Chamber of Commerce
- York County Community
Against Racism - York County Libaries
- York County Literacy Council
- York Counts
Want to get involved? Contact us!
What research has been done within the community?
When the initiative began, we surveyed nearly 500 area patients with diabetes, coronary artery disease or heart failure about their condition. While the results showed that patients are generally satisfied with the health care they receive, we still continue to see the need for improvement. Patients were asked questions in four categories: effectiveness of physician-patient communications, understanding personal health risks, use of health care quality information and personal health behaviors.
For detailed results, click on the links below.
Are there other Aligning Forces
for Quality communities?
AF4Q – South Central PA is a Chartered Value Exchange (federal distinction of U.S. Department of Health & Human Services) and one of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)'s Aligning Forces for Quality communities. We are among 16 communities chosen to be involved in the national effort to improve the overall quality and value of health care in communities across America. Additional documents are available below to describe the history and background of Aligning Forces for Quality.