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Core faculty member Sam Harris, MD, recently obtained certification in Health Care Quality and Management (HCQM) from the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians (ABQAURP).

The HCQM certification demonstrates that a clinician possesses the practical knowledge and tools to reduce medical errors, ensure patient safety, eliminate waste and unnecessary service, all while avoiding potentially harmful delays in care. The ABQAURP is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the overall quality of health care.

"I am proud of Dr. Harris for leadership in making this commitment to further develop a skillset that is critical in the modern era of medicine and health care, and equally proud of his success in achieving board certification," said Program Director Seger S. Morris, DO. "We look forward to him sharing this knowledge and skill with our entire residency program to benefit our faculty, trainees, and patients."

To qualify for the certification, candidates must have several years of experience working on case management and health care quality, as well as have completed at least 25 hours of continuing education in certain categories. Once the requirements have been met, the examination covers topics such as clinical resource management, physician advisor roles, transitions of care, risk management, patient safety, and much more.

“Professionals who have achieved certification in HCQM are deeply committed to patient safety, health care quality, and effective care,” according to the ABQAURP website. “Those certified in HCQM demonstrate their superior ability to critically evaluate industry literature, identify evidence-based best practices, and make recommendations that balance appropriateness of health care services with cost and quality.” 

Dr. Harris joined BMH-NM as a Hospitalist in 2019 and has served as an integral part of the team of faculty physicians since the inception of the Graduate Medical Education program in Oxford, MS. He leads trainees in Quality and Safety curriculum, including lectures, projects, and bedside teaching.  

Congratulations, Dr. Harris!