MOM E N T U M ANNUAL REPORT 2011
technologies, community collaborations, and education and outreach services to improve access and quality of care. We were especially proud – after providing policy and planning support during the establishment of the Office of Rural Health (ORH) and developing performance metrics for a half billion dollars in ORH projects – to transition the office to able leadership and a full complement of government staff.
As we look back on the year gone by,
we do so with the sense that we might ultimately come to judge 2011 as a defining moment in the evolution and growth of Atlas Research. In the face of great market uncertainty, fierce competition, and government clients’ heavy emphasis on cost reduction, we balanced prudent retrenchment measures with forward-looking investments in strategic hires, portfolio diversification, and infrastructure that, together, helped us achieve momentum that we expect will endure and carry us to even greater heights in the years to come. We finished 2011 with our fourth consecutive period of year-on-year growth. For that accomplishment and our continued engagement and investment in the communities in which we live and work, we were recognized with the Small and Emerging Contractors Advisory Forum (SECAF) Award of Excellence and jointly honored with the Washington, DC Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year Award. We are humbled by the recognition and challenged to prove ourselves fully worthy of it. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continued to be an important client, as we cemented our reputation for winning and performing on large, high profile contracts of national scope. We helped VA Medical Centers throughout the country improve quality and safety through our Continuous Survey Readiness Program. We helped family caregivers of disabled Veterans through our National Veterans Caregiver Training Program. We had multiple projects focused on homeless Veterans and women Veterans, as well as rural and elderly populations, that worked with innovative
The firm launched the health equity, strategy, and communications practice group and welcomed nationally recognized health equity expert Dr. Jamie Hart as the group director and senior vice president. We established a strong presence with the Department of Health and Human Services – the Office of Minority Health; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the Office of Adolescent Health; the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; and the Office of Population Affairs became Atlas clients. With an eye toward further diversifying a portfolio that had been almost exclusively oriented to federal government contracting, the firm also stood up a commercial consulting practice offering a suite of services in clinical research, regulatory affairs, and implementation science. We hit another milestone in late fall when we moved into our new corporate offices on Prospect Street in Georgetown, just a few blocks from the Georgetown University campus, where many members of the Atlas senior leadership serve on faculty. It is an ideal location in that it allows for the free flow of expertise and mutually beneficial engagement with the academic research enterprise, bringing added value to our clients and giving Atlas access to some of the best and brightest of young talent as well as experienced domain expertise. We have much to be proud of as we reflect on our performance in the face of adversity brought on by one of the most challenging domestic economic environments the nation and region have seen. But rest on pride and our laurels we will not. We owe it to the communities whose lives we improve
through our work and to our hard-working and dedicated staff to press forward in pursuit of what we believe to be the almost limitless potential to do good and well. We remain thankful always and look forward with anticipation as our momentum continues to build. Onward and upward!
Ryung Suh, MD, MPP, MBA, MPH Chief Executive Officer
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Mark H. Chichester, JD President
CONTENTS Improving Health Care for Veterans
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Promoting Health Equity
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Measuring and Improving Quality and Performance
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News
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Service
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In the Classroom
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Atlas Leadership
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Our Services
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Areas of Expertise
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ETERANS EALTH 2
Atlas Research www.atlasresearch.us
IMPROVING HEALTH CARE FOR VETERANS Through education, programs, outreach, and research, we enhance access to quality health care for those who have served our country
Supporting VA’s Drive to End Veteran Homelessness Recent estimates suggest that upwards of 75,000 Veterans are homeless on any given night in America, and nearly twice as many experience homelessness at some point during the course of a year. In 2011, the Washington DC VA Medical Center partnered with Atlas to launch the Homeless and Homeless Prevention Services Program. Atlas case managers provide homeless and homeless prevention outreach services in the Washington metro area. The project focuses on evaluating service needs, enhancing Veteran enrollment, and facilitating clinical assessment and consultation for homeless or at risk of homelessness Veterans. Case managers serve Veterans, including growing numbers of women Veterans and their
families, recently returning from Operations Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom. The case managers have effectively fostered partnerships among area homeless programs, mental health service providers, clinics, and other community stakeholders to determine ongoing service needs and ensure that VA efforts complement already existing activities and initiatives. In addition, the case managers coordinate numerous services outside of those traditionally provided by VA, among them, social security, food stamps, transportation assistance, free cell phones, legal assistance, pre- and postincarceration services, and rent assistance. The Atlas team’s commitment to developing a comprehensive program that serves Veterans and fosters strong relationships among homeless service providers in the community has resulted in valuable lessons learned and progress toward the goal of eliminating Veteran homelessness in our nation’s capital.
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Training Family Caregivers More than 10 million people are caring for an estimated 23 million Veterans in the U.S. The majority of family caregivers are women, with most of them providing care for a spouse or partner, often by themselves. To better support the needs of our country’s caregivers, President Obama signed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 into law, requiring the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a Family Caregiver Support Program to provide comprehensive support and benefits to Veterans and their caregivers. A key component of this program is the National Veteran Caregiver Training Program, designed to assist those providing care for post-9/11 disabled Veterans. In 2011 a contract to establish and administer the new caregiver
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training was awarded to Easter Seals and Atlas, in partnership with the National Alliance for Caregiving, Family Caregiver Alliance, National Family Caregiver Association, and the National Association for Hispanic Health. Atlas led the development of the training curriculum and classroom facilitation plans, both of which benefited from Atlas’ extensive knowledge of Veterans and experience working on high-profile national projects for VA. The training program provides caregivers with baseline information and skill sets to increase their capacity and competency as caregivers. Specific objectives of the training include providing the caregivers with knowledge of key topics and concepts; skill sets in direct care and behavior management; an understanding of care planning issues and action steps; and knowledge and skills that promote wellness for the caregivers, Veterans, and their families.
Atlas and partners conducted a two-day training in Puerto Rico where the curriculum was delivered in Spanish, demonstrating the importance of employing culturally competent delivery methods. The Spanish text above is a comment from one of the participants. Translated, it says, “The training was very good; it provided orientation for the caregiver and Veteran, the Veteran benefit that helps to improve the quality of life of the Veteran, and the knowledge that there is support for the Veteran’s wife. I hope in GOD that our request is heard and that this initiative does not stop and continues to grow to benefit other caregivers who will follow us.” Atlas Research www.atlasresearch.us
Three training options are available: face to face classroom sessions; self-study via a workbook/ DVD; and a Web-based course. To date, the project team has delivered training over 4,000 caregivers.
Collaborating with Rural Community Health Centers to Improve Access to Veteran Services Veterans residing in rural communities are greatly in need of improved access to health care services. Although some choose to go to VA medical facilities, others prefer to use private health care providers, such as Community Health Centers (CHCs). By choosing one to the exclusion of the other, Veterans 67% OF THE may be limiting their access to more comprehensive health VETERANS care services. The VA Capitol RECEIVING Health Care Network initiated a project to increase coordination CARE WERE and collaboration between the NOT ENROLLED Network and privately run CHCs. Atlas and the National Association IN VA of Community Health Centers (NACHC) were selected to help conceptualize and guide the project, the primary goals of which were to identify CHC patients who were rural Veterans, encourage their enrollment, and better coordinate care between VA and CHCs. Through interviews, assessments, and focus groups, Atlas found 67% of the Veterans receiving care at the CHCs were not enrolled in VA, and 87% of those Veterans wanted to learn more about their potential eligibility and VA benefits. This work enabled VA to better understand the rural Veteran population’s health care needs, improve CHC-VA collaboration, enhance coordination of care, increase VA enrollment, and, most importantly, build strong working relationships between VA and CHC staff focused upon improving access and quality of care for the rural Veterans they mutually serve.
Helping Transform VA to Meet the Unique Needs of Women Veterans As part of its commitment to address issues related to the changing demographics of the military population and respond to the special health care needs of women, VA has launched several programs, including a Mobile Mini Residency Training Program with the VA Capitol Health Care Network (VISN 5). The Training Program enhances provider knowledge of, and skills associated with, caring for women of childbearing age through didactic and case-based instruction on gender-specific health care topics and hands-on skill-building. The program was offered in rural outpatient clinics and VA Medical Centers in the VISN 5 region, and was delivered by credentialed faculty well-versed in a variety of VA-identified topics in women’s health. The Atlas team was instrumental in the success of this program, which has the interest of women Veteran program managers across the VA system.
Developing Solutions to Help Homeless Women Veterans For women Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, it was important for the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau to identify solutions and promising practices that successfully treat the multiple traumas and barriers affecting efforts to reintegrate these women back into family, community, and workforce, and to achieve financial security. Atlas partnered with the National Center on Family Homelessness and Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. to identify reintegration strategies, primary keys to diverse program success, methods that ensure successful implementation, lessons learned, and obstacles.
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(L to R) Paul Glastris, editor-in-chief of the Washington Monthly; Phillip Longman, author of The Best Care Anywhere; Ken Kizer, MD, director for the Institute for Population Health Improvement; and Ross Fletcher, MD, chief of staff at the DC VA Medical Center; discussed patient-centered care during a Grand Rounds event at the DC VA Medical Center in September.
The team developed a comprehensive study methodology, including the use of a literature review, expert panelists, program office interviews, and success stories with women Veterans, in order to capture promising practices in addressing traumas experienced by homeless women Veterans and those at risk.
Promoting Patient-Centered Care Through Provider Training and Education The Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center (DC VAMC) engaged Atlas to plan and execute specially designed meetings and events that advanced efforts to meet facility-level and individual performance goals, informed and trained providers and staff on patient-centered approaches to care, and promoted community among Medical Center providers and staff.
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To fulfill the Medical Center’s goals, the Atlas team planned and managed the 2011 Cultural Competence Grand Rounds series, as well as additional events focused on specific issues and challenges confronting providers at DC VAMC. The development of the Grand Rounds was based on our team’s consultation with DC VAMC facility leadership to assess facility program goals and identify provider and staff educational needs. This initial assessment revealed the need to focus on culturally competent, patientcentered care as applied to new populations and programs at DC VAMC. The team provided planning, content development, and logistical support to DC VAMC, building on the storied tradition of Grand Rounds as interactive learning experiences. The series featured events on new standards for patient-centered care, new initiatives such as patient-directed visitation, and sessions on new and growing populations such as women Veterans. Through the design and execution
of diverse and results-oriented meeting and program formats – briefings, roundtables, seminars, workshops, and conferences – Atlas has enabled the DC VAMC leadership to offer events that are specially tailored to the educational needs and interests of particular target audiences within the Medical Center. Through this and other projects, Atlas collaborates with education and training staff, and with the VA Employee Education System, to ensure compliance with all requirements for awarding continuing education credit, including the convening of requisite planning faculty and development of curricula. Atlas supports VA in their efforts to extend the reach of programming beyond the physically present audience by co-managing the production of webcasts and podcasts, live satellite broadcasts over the VA Knowledge Network, and postings to the VA Content-on-Demand system.
Establishing Educational and Outreach Programs to Improve Health Care for Rural Women Veterans The Women Veterans Health Program at the Capitol Health Care Network (VISN 5) promotes the health, welfare, and dignity of women Veterans by ensuring access to timely, comprehensive, and quality health care. Following a comprehensive assessment, Atlas designed an evidence-based outreach program focused on increasing enrollment and utilization of targeted VA clinics by rural women Veterans. In addition to the team’s outreach development efforts, our staff prepared a competencybased health professional training program for providers and administrators as well as a training program targeting outreach personnel, including women Veteran program managers and nurse practitioners.
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Atlas conducted 95 interviews and provided VA with valuable feedback and data on patient access to routine and specialty services in VISN 5, on patient perceptions of care, and on provider perspectives related to working at outpatient clinics and the associated challenges they face.
Standing Up VA’s Office of Rural Health In order to better serve rural Veterans, VA established the national Office of Rural Health (ORH) within the Office of the Assistant Deputy Undersecretary for Policy and Planning of the Veterans Health Administration ORH FACED in 2007. With a skeleton staff, robust annual appropriations IMMEDIATE of $250 million, and intense PRESSURE TO congressional and public scrutiny, ORH came under ESTABLISH ITSELF immediate pressure to establish AS A CATALYST itself as a catalyst for rapid improvement of access and FOR RAPID quality for the roughly 3.3 IMPROVEMENT million enrolled Veterans living in rural and highly rural areas. Into the breach entered the ORH Policy and Planning Group (PPG), contracted support conceived to offer independent, objective insight and to serve as a channel to the broader rural health and research communities. Atlas provided leadership and the on-site presence of the PPG, working closely with staff to build out the office, establishing lines of communication to key internal and external stakeholders; conducting critical studies and analyses; managing regional Veterans Rural Health Resource Centers; organizing VA provider and staff educational symposia; supporting a federal advisory committee; developing systems to track the rapid deployment of funding to the field; and laying the foundation for an operational infrastructure appropriate to the challenges and opportunities that the new program office faced.
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In the spring of 2011, after two and a half years embedded within ORH, Atlas led the transition of PPG functions from contracted staff to ORH employees. It is with great pride that we reflect on the critical role Atlas played in standing up the office. We are even prouder to have supported the office’s growth to a point where it could stand on its own and constructively touch the lives of the many Veterans that depend on ORH’s important work.
Creating Communications Strategies to Improve Rural Veteran Access to VA Health Services and Resources The Rural Health Communications Strategies and My HealtheVet Expansion Program was designed to create better visibility of VA health resources and tools for rural Veterans, family caregivers, and health care providers in the VA Capitol Health Care Network (VISN 5). The Atlas team developed a multi-stage communications initiative that began with a baseline market analysis that included an examination of connectivity (broadband, mobile phone coverage, telephone, etc.) in the VISN’s rural areas. The review supported the development of an enrollment campaign and an all-encompassing outreach strategy that deployed educational materials and elevated awareness of VA health services. The project resulted in 84 outreach events, the enrollment of more than 250 Veterans, and 9,800 registrations with My HealtheVet.
Improving Rural Veteran Access to VA Services through Transportation Optimization For the Transportation Study Program, Atlas conducted a systematic, evidence-based study
of rural Veteran access to VA health services in VISN 5 and of the provision of enhanced, nonemergency medical transportation options. Our work on this project increased VA’s understanding of the unique transportation challenges rural Veterans face, and informed a larger effort to expand available transportation for Veterans who would otherwise struggle to travel to and from VA hospitals and clinics. The baseline assessment identified unmet transportation needs in northwestern Virginia, the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, western Maryland, the eastern shore of Maryland, and southern Maryland. It also identified demographic patterns among the likely ridership as well as available public and private transportation options, transportation utilization patterns, and terrain and infrastructure barriers in the targeted VISN 5 areas. In addition, VISN 5 purchased 21 vehicles and contracted with drivers to transport rural
Veterans from Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The Atlas team’s commitment to develop and implement an effective and evidence-based transportation plan for VISN 5 has led to sound solutions for improving access for rural Veterans.
Developing Patient-Centered Rehabilitation Clinics for Rural Veterans Rural Veterans in need of physical and occupational therapy services often must travel long distances to receive care at a VA facility or through a fee-based service. The Rehabilitative Service Expansion Program expanded access to care by offering physical and occupational therapy services closer to rural Veterans in the Martinsburg, WV, area of VISN 5. The Atlas team conducted assessments and identified the areas where the need was greatest.
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As a result of our research, planning, and implementation support, new clinics were established at the Stephens City, VA; Cumberland, MD; and Harrisonburg, VA, clinics. Patients surveyed following the opening of these rehabilitation clinics expressed great satisfaction with the care provided, affirming that Atlas’ efforts contributed to significant improvement in the access to, and quality of, rehabilitative services in VISN 5.
plan to enhance coordination and streamline community hospice services for Veterans residing in rural communities. The team works collaboratively with interested hospice and endof-life organizations in the VA Midwest Health Care Network service area to develop care coordination models that effectively serve the unique health care needs of Veterans in need of end-of-life care. The models bridge the gap between VA and rural community hospice or other end-of-life care providers.
Improving End-of-Life Care for Rural Veterans
The VA Midwest Health Care Network covers states in the Upper Midwest Region. Five community-based hospice and palliative care organizations were selected to pilot models of collaboration. Two of the pilot sites are in Iowa, and one each in Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
Atlas and the National Rural Health Resource Center were awarded a contract from the Veterans Health Administration to develop a
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The care coordination models will be shared nationwide with the Veteran Health Administration, hospice and palliative care organizations, and rural health care stakeholders.
Leveraging Social Media to Facilitate Communication and Collaboration Among Rural Health Professionals The Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System (VISN 16) initiated a pilot project to address the unique communication and collaboration challenges faced by rural health care providers in one of the largest health care networks in the VA system. To accomplish its objectives, VISN 16 called upon Atlas to design, build, and implement the Rural Veterans
Provider Network (RVPN), a social media platform created to facilitate interactions among rural health care providers, both internal and external to VA, who serve rural Veterans, and increase their ability to form a community of practice based on shared priorities and values. Atlas worked with partner Booz Allen Hamilton to develop the RVPN with a focus on the VISN’s programming priorities: access, quality of care, technology deployment, education and training, and outreach and collaboration. RVPN taps the power of social media to give providers new and expanded opportunities to increase connectedness, enable two-way communications, and facilitate collaboration across the traditional barriers of geography, organization domain or hierarchy, and professional affinity.
EALTH QUITY 12 Atlas Research www.atlasresearch.us
PROMOTING HEALTH EQUITY We work with providers, programs, and systems to address health disparities and improve health outcomes
Eliminating Health Disparities and Enhancing Health Services
for the alignment of the goals, functions, and organizational structure of the state minority health offices to address health disparities.
As the primary agency charged with protecting the nation’s health and providing essential human services, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) administers more than 300 programs covering a wide range of activities, including an emphasis on improving minority health. To that end, the Office of Minority Health (OMH) develops health policies and programs specifically designed to eliminate health disparities.
Our contributions to the OMH mission have enabled the Office to enhance its leadership role in expanding programs and promulgating policies that eliminate health disparities with significantly increased effectiveness and efficiency.
In 2011, OMH engaged Atlas to provide support in the form of the development and monitoring of OMH’s performance measures; provision of technical writing support; implementation of six new HHS Regional Offices of Minority Health; and assessment and recommendations
Supporting the National Plan for Action to Reduce Health Disparities The Office of Minority Health is also responsible for developing and executing implementation procedures to support the National Plan for Action to Reduce Health Disparities (NPA). The
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NPA represents a critical first step in integrating the strategically focused, cross-sector, nontraditional approach required to eliminate health disparities. Atlas was selected by OMH to assist the Office in transitioning the NPA from a concept to a concrete and actionable implementation strategy. Our staff contributes to this process in a variety of ways: Conducting a comparative assessment of pending health reform provisions, and developing recommendations to enhance OMH’s ability to improve access to health care for communities of color; Supporting the NPA’s implementation by drafting an implementation strategy; Providing technical assistance to support and sustain the implementation strategy at
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the national, regional, state, and community levels; and Providing support to the Federal Interagency Health Equity Team subcommittees as they identify strategies for carrying out the NPA recommendations on the federal level.
Helping Community Health Workers Reduce Health Disparities for Underserved and Minority Populations The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is another HHS organization for which Atlas (and partner Altarum) provides
National Health Equity Expert Dr. Jamie Hart Joins Atlas support, specifically to assist in its implementation of the Community Health Worker Health Disparities Initiative. This initiative is designed to empower community health workers as an integral part of a public health approach to reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities in cardiovascular, lung, and blood diseases among underserved and minority communities. The Atlas project team is supporting NHLBI to achieve its program goals by providing technical assistance; conducting formative research; developing a health disparities website; supporting communities of practice focused on health disparities; developing culturally appropriate materials and tools; and funding and managing demonstration programs. As a result of our activities, NHLBI is better positioned to showcase the value and role of community health workers. Additionally, the organization is strengthening its ability to create new partnerships to implement and sustain its community health worker programs.
Adolescent Health Following the establishment of HHS’ Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) in 2010, the agency contracted with Atlas to assist in developing a comprehensive strategic framework to be shared with outside stakeholders for feedback. To create this
Jamie Hart, PhD, MPH, a recognized health equity and strategic development expert, joined Atlas Research in 2011, as senior vice president of health equity, strategy, and communications. Dr. Hart has extensive experience in improving health outcomes and increasing access to care “DR. HART’S for underserved populations COMMITMENT TO through strategic planning and facilitation, provision IMPROVING HEALTH of training and technical OUTCOMES AND assistance, research, and ACCESS TO CARE assessment.
FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS RESONATES WITH THE MISSION AND WORK OF OUR FIRM.”
Dr. Hart joined Atlas from Altarum Institute, where she served as director of the knowledge transfer and technical assistance practice area and lead of the health equity area of expertise. She is highly regarded for MARK H. CHICHESTER, her ability to bring diverse PRESIDENT audiences together and facilitate collaborative efforts to define and address common goals, typically in relation to health equity. She currently assists the Office of Minority Health in executing an implementation strategy for the National Plan for Action to Reduce Health Disparities by providing ongoing technical assistance and facilitation to a federal interagency team of more than 12 agencies, 10 regional planning bodies, and various national partners. She also facilitates ongoing planning processes with organizations such as the Office of Adolescent Health, the Office of Population Affairs, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She works with the NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to increase the capacity of community health workers to address cardiovascular disease prevention and asthma management among underserved populations. Dr. Hart holds a Master’s degree in public health, health behavior, and health education, along with a Master’s associate degree and a Doctorate of Philosophy in U.S. history with a specialization in African American history, all from the University of Michigan. 2011 Annual Report 15
framework, our team has conducted the following activities: Facilitated conversations with OAH to gain a clear understanding of its strengths and challenges, to evaluate national adolescent health activities, to create mission and vision statements, and to prepare a strategic plan; Created documents to support the strategic planning process (e.g., a marketing piece outlining OAH’s vision, mission, and strategic goals; a work analysis reviewing national adolescent health initiatives); Identified and engaged a panel of adolescent health experts to further
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develop and strengthen the strategic plan framework; and Involved external stakeholders in the planning process by preparing briefing materials, presenting at non-OAH conferences and meetings, hosting regional stakeholder meetings, and conducting webinars and other Web-based activities. The Atlas team’s work to develop the OAH’s strategic planning initiative will strengthen the Office’s leadership ability to advance more efficient and effective programs and policies to improve adolescent health promotion and disease prevention.
Improving Family Planning Programs for Low-Income Populations Atlas works with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Population Affairs (OPA) to revise its Title X Family Planning program guidelines. The Title X program, which has been administered by OPA’s Office of Family Planning since its enactment in 1970, is the only federal grant program dedicated solely to providing individuals from low-income families with comprehensive family planning and reproductive health services. The Title X guidelines are designed to assist current and prospective grantees in understanding and utilizing the family planning service grants program in relation
to project management, administration, clinic management, and clinic service requirements. The Atlas team is working to produce evidencebased Title X program guidelines that also serve the greater reproductive health community. Some of our activities towards achieving this goal include preparing the agenda, facilitating four interdisciplinary expert workgroup meetings to provide overall project direction, and facilitating six technical panel meetings focused on specific guideline sections. Not only is Atlas involved in developing the revised guidelines and a plan for their dissemination, but our staff is also creating a process to keep the guidelines current and using the evidence review process and identified gaps to inform OPA’s future research efforts.
MPROVING UALITY
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MEASURING AND IMPROVING QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE We help health care organizations deliver high quality care by monitoring performance and providing tools to enhance care
Developing an Architecture for Clinical Quality Measures in Value Based Purchasing Programs within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services In the transformation from a traditional fee for service environment to that of value based purchasing, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must not only determine the clinical quality metrics and
other data to incorporate, but also the health information technology tools necessary for providers to collect, aggregate, analyze, and report that data for the myriad of national reporting and value based purchasing programs currently in development. Atlas senior staff partnered with other organizations to collect information from leadership and experts across federal agencies, as well as providers and other stakeholders, to assess the requirements necessary to inform an overall strategic plan for CMS.
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Communicating the Project Development Process for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Atlas and partners are providing the Office of Information Services in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services with communications
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support services, including the development of a campaign announcing a new tool designed to speed up, streamline, and guide employees and contractors through the project development and review process. The project team conducted a market analysis and interviewed several key stakeholders before developing a communications strategy. Marketing products will be developed and the campaign will launch later in 2012. By creating long-term
communications strategies for different components of the program while supporting and supervising tactical communication activities, Atlas is helping CMS to create efficiency and effectiveness with its project development processes.
Ensuring Compliance with Hospital Accreditation Standards and Improving Quality of Care The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established the National Continuous Survey Readiness (CSR) program to improve VA understanding and compliance with Joint Commission accreditation standards and processes. Atlas and partners from Joint Commission Resources were selected to fulfill the requirements of this contract. Key responsibilities of Atlas CSR consultants include informing and training VA staff on
Joint Commission standards, survey processes, national patient safety goals, core quality measures, and disease specific certifications. The consultants also serve as the primary point of contact for the day-to-day CSR program activities for selected VA facilities and Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), provide consultations on standards compliance and best practices, and organize advisory groups to strengthen CSR activities. Atlas CSR consultants bring significant methodological expertise in quality improvement, extensive knowledge in evaluating health care programs and services, and exceptional customer service to VA’s CSR contract. Ongoing training with JCR representatives on how to best utilize electronic compliance tools has also enabled the Atlas team to better assist VA facilities as they strive to maintain continuous standards compliance, prepare for periodic performance reviews, and keep abreast of the latest quality and safety innovations and requirements.
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NEWS IN THE NEWS
ATLAS MOVES INTO NEW CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS Atlas has moved into new corporate headquarters in the heart of Georgetown in Washington, DC. The new space accommodates the company’s growing staff and is a short walk from Georgetown University, where several members of the Atlas executive staff hold faculty appointments. “We looked for space that could accommodate our growth, and a location that would resonate with the culture of our company,” said Atlas President Mark H. Chichester. “We believe we have found just that in our offices on Prospect Street, and we look forward to welcoming clients and partners into our new corporate home.”
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ATLAS RECRUITS CHIEF EXECUTIVES AND INNOVATORS TO ADVISORY BOARD
ATLAS LAUNCHES NEW SCIENTIFIC CONSULTING PRACTICE
In 2011, Atlas announced the establishment of a corporate advisory board to provide strategic insight and counsel to the management team during a period defined by significant corporate growth and creeping market uncertainty. The seasoned group of corporate leaders, well-known for their leadership in the health, technology, and education sectors, includes:
A new scientific consulting practice, led by Atlas Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Jeff Baetz, was launched in December of 2011.
Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, JD, MPA President Emeritus, The George Washington University (Chairman)
Nicholas Donofrio, MS Fellow Emeritus and Executive Vice President, Innovation and Technology, IBM (retired)
The firm offers clients a suite of services in clinical research and regulatory affairs, including auditing, regulatory strategy, and due diligence services. Atlas will assist pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology clients in overcoming critical regulatory hurdles, devising effective regulatory strategies and providing hands-on regulatory support. Mr. Baetz is joined by Vice President for Clinical Research, Dr. Kyungsun Suh, who oversees development and management of the Atlas clinical research portfolio, medical and scientific communications, scientific consulting for clients, strategic planning support, and exploration of new professional services practice areas.
John F. ‘Skip’ Williams, Jr., MD, EdD Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine (and former Chief Executive) The George Washington University Medical Center “As a legacy type myself, it’s exciting to observe this bright young next generation of thought leaders as they add value through innovation and hard work,” said Mr. Trachtenberg, board chairman. “When I think of Atlas it feels like tomorrow is just about to dawn. The sun just keeps coming up.” “We are fortunate to have so distinguished a group of strategic thinkers as this to advise us during a critical stage in the company’s growth,” said Ryung Suh, Atlas CEO. “It speaks volumes about what we’ve been able to accomplish and our commitment to maximizing the potential of what we see as a very promising future.”
ATLAS PRESIDENT FEATURED ON ABC’S WASHINGTON BUSINESS REPORT Atlas made an appearance on ABC news in the Washington capital region in September. Company President Mark H. Chichester was featured on the Washington Business Report, where he discussed cofounding Atlas Research with business partner Ryung Suh, and some of the work the firm does in support of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
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ATLAS CO-FOUNDERS RECEIVE DC CHAMBER SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD Atlas Research co-founders Ryung Suh, CEO, and Mark H. Chichester, president, together were named the 2011 Small Business Person of the Year by the DC Chamber of Commerce. Honored for their successes, achievements, and commitment to the District of Columbia’s business community, Dr. Suh and Mr. Chichester were recognized on June 14 at the Chamber’s Champions Small Business Awards and Expo in Washington, DC. Leading to their co-selection as Small Business Person of the Year is the team’s commitment to civil service and pursuit of work to address health equity. Community engagement, whether in the Greater Washington area community or beyond, are important parts of the Atlas mission and performance. This includes community-based initiatives such as health assessments in developing countries, sponsorship of wellness events for women, cultural competency training for health care providers, increasing access to health care services for Veterans in rural communities, and the recent establishment of a nonprofit health foundation.
ATLAS RECEIVES 2011 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FROM SECAF The Small and Emerging Contractors Advisory Forum (SECAF) recognized Atlas Research with the 2011 Award of Excellence, which honors firms with annual revenues under $25 million that have distinguished themselves as outstanding citizens of
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the government contracting community. The winners were announced at the SECAF Annual Awards Gala on April 28, 2011. The field of nominees included nearly 200 submissions. “These companies have demonstrated what it takes to succeed,” said Mark Moore, executive vice president of John Marshall Bank and co-chair of the Awards Gala selection committee. Atlas President Mark H. Chichester accepted the award on behalf of the management team and staff. “We are committed to the collaboration and sense of community that defines a thriving government contracting ecosystem, and we commit ourselves to being contributing members of the SECAF community,” said Chichester.
ANALYZING HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM MODELS TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE ACCESS Over the past year, Atlas experts partnered with Solucia Consulting and Georgetown University to conduct a study on the effect of Massachusetts health reform efforts on insurance markets and prices. With the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the need to develop related regulations, the lessons of Massachusetts reform have become even more important for policymakers to understand. Funded by The Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that supports independent research on health care issues to improve health care practice and policy, the study is the first to examine the Massachusetts model from an actuarial perspective in order to understand its impact on the market, pricing, and insurance company profitability. Using claims data obtained from several Massachusetts based commercial insurance carriers, the team evaluated a number of hypotheses across a wide spectrum of consumers living in the state. The findings of this study will be used to inform discussions of health care reform in Massachusetts, a state that is closely watched as a pioneer of national health care reform.
SERVICE We are committed to investing in the communities that, by their needs, give us the opportunity to provide innovative solutions and to do well.
SERVICE
ATLAS ASSISTS HOMELESS VETERANS AT WINTERHAVEN STAND DOWN
Atlas employees, including CEO Ryung Suh, President Mark H. Chichester, and Senior Vice President John Gilmore, volunteered at the Washington DC VA Medical Center’s 15th annual Winterhaven Homeless Stand Down. The January 2011 event brought together more than 70 community agencies, Veteran Service Organizations, and national and local businesses to provide support and services to homeless Veterans in a centralized location. They provided more than 500 homeless metro area Veterans access to health care, employment services, housing support, and other services to help them improve their situations. In addition to supporting the event, Atlas donated more than 175 coats and other articles of clothing to homeless Veterans. The donations, collected throughout December, were brought to philanthropic partners at ZIPS Dry Cleaners, who cleaned and delivered them to the Washington DC VA Medical Center, where they were distributed at the Stand Down.
SUPPORTING VETERANS THROUGH HONOR FLIGHTS As part of Atlas’ ongoing commitment to Veterans, employees participated in several Honor Flight events during 2011. Honor Flight is a non-profit organization that honors U.S. Veterans by flying them to Washington, DC, to take part in public events and recognize them for their service and sacrifice. Atlas employees welcomed Veterans at Reagan National Airport, visited with their families, and thanked them for their service to the country.
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EDUCATION Atlas is unique as a consulting firm in that it is firmly rooted in leading academic institutions. Atlas executives hold faculty appointments at Georgetown University and other institutions of higher education, where they share their expertise and experiences with students as part of an ongoing commitment to thought leadership and share of mind activities.
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IN THE CLASSROOM HEALTH CARE CONSULTING | CEO Ryung Suh and Senior Vice President John Gilmore have used their years of experience in health care consulting to bring unique perspectives to the health care management consulting course that they teach at Georgetown University. The course introduces graduate students to the field of health care management consulting and provides them with a background of the industry as well as information on how to become a management consultant.
MANAGEMENT CONSULTING | In a joint effort with the regional North Carolina Small Business Technology and Development Centers, students apply knowledge and skills developed during the program to the business problems of a real-world organization. Taught by Celia Szelwach, program manager for women’s health, at Montreat College, the goal is to help students translate theory into application in consulting with a local business organization.
STRATEGIC PLANNING | Celia Szelwach, program manager for women’s health, teaches at Montreat College in the Master of Science in Management and Leadership and MBA programs. This course is designed to integrate the functional areas of an organization, examine the external and internal environments in which they operate, and provide planning skills necessary for setting a competitive strategy. The strategic plan is studied as a proactive and reactive process. Students have the opportunity to conduct empirical research and develop a plan for business, nonprofits, or community involvement activities and events.
MARKETING MANAGEMENT | Communications Director Wendy Opsahl teaches Marketing Management for graduate students at the University of Mary. This course introduces students to marketing and offers a thorough analysis of the marketing domain, including theoretical foundations, appeal to consumers, and the development of unique marketing strategies.
CORRECTIONS HEALTH | Gary Filerman, senior vice president and chair of the health management and policy group, teaches on the intricacies of correctional health inside and outside the system, for The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. This course provides an introduction to the epidemiological, medical, economic, legal and managerial challenges to providing appropriate health care in correctional settings.
GROUP DYNAMICS | This course focuses on analyzing and developing group leadership skills that provide a strong foundation for effective managers. Taught by Wendy Opsahl, communications director, graduate students at the University of Mary learn about the nature of groups and science of group dynamics; the processes of group formation, development, and structural growth; interaction and influence within groups; motivation, productivity, problem-solving and decision-making, and leadership within groups; effective facilitation of groups; and interpersonal relationships and effects of environment within groups.
BIOHAZARDOUS THREAT AGENTS | CEO Ryung Suh and Senior Fellow John Jacocks taught a course at the Georgetown University School of Medicine entitled Defense Threat Reduction Initiatives. Both Dr. Suh and Dr. Jacocks have extensive experience in the military and working with biohazardous threat agents and our nation’s response to CBRNE threats.
HEALTH POLICY | CEO Ryung Suh and Senior Vice President Jason Ormsby understand the variety of issues and challenges that surround health care policy. In the health policy course they both teach at Georgetown University, Dr. Suh and Dr. Ormsby leverage their experiences across the field of health care to educate graduate students on the unique issues of health care policy.
DISRUPTIVE INNOVATIONS IN HEALTH CARE | CEO Ryung Suh served as course director for a new graduate course entitled Disruptive Innovations in Health Care to help business managers and health administrators examine health systems, products and services, and the health care marketplace through innovative business models and creative perspectives. The course faculty consisted of Kevin Vigilante, senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton, and Paul Keckley, executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions.
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ATLAS LEADERSHIP PRINCIPALS Ryung Suh, MD, MPP, MBA, MPH Chief Executive Officer
Mark H. Chichester, JD President
MANAGEMENT TEAM Gary L. Filerman, PhD
Senior Vice President and Chairman, Health Management and Policy Group
Brent R. Gibson, MD, MPH
Jeff Baetz
Vice President, Regulatory Affairs
Kate Lynch Machado
Vice President, Business Development
Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs
John E. Gilmore, MBA, PMP
Deborah McKay, RN, MS
Vice President, Veteran and Military Health Services
Senior Vice President
Jamie Hart, PhD, MPH
Senior Vice President, Health Equity, Strategy, and Communication Group
Hilda R. Heady, MSW, ACSW
Joy H. Park
Vice President, Operations
Kyungsun Suh, PhD
Vice President, Clinical Research
Senior Vice President and Chair, Rural Health Research and Policy Group
Thomas A. Wilson, RN, MS, CPHQ
Marie Minier
Wendy Opsahl, MA
Senior Vice President
Jason Ormsby, PhD, MBA, MHSA
Senior Vice President and Chair, Health Quality and Information Technology Group
Paul Rader, MHA, FACHE
Senior Vice President, International Health
Vice President, Quality and Risk Management
Communications Director
Stephanie Mascaro, MBA Project Manager
Celia Szelwach, DBA, CCEP
Program Manager for Women’s Health
SENIOR FELLOWS Atlas Senior Fellows are noted experts and leaders from some of the most widely recognized and innovative consulting, research, academic, and development organizations in the world. They each come to Atlas with a history of demonstrated achievement and a reputation for innovation and effectiveness. Senior Fellows work collaboratively across the company, have a systemic impact on work and client engagements, and may lead or engage in projects in their respective areas of expertise.
Julie Anbender
Fr. Rick Curry, SJ, PhD
Bob Carr, MD, MPH, FACPM
Brian Hurley
Principal, Ward Circle Strategies
Senior Vice President and Corporate Medical Director of GlaxoSmithKline
Jerry Coopey, MPH Health Consultant
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Chaplain-in-residence at Georgetown University
Principal, Ward Circle Strategies
Sanford M. Garfunkel, FACHE
Director (ret.), Veterans Integrated Service Network 5, Veterans Health Administration
John Jacocks, MD, MTM&H (COL, ret)
Chief Medical Officer for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)
Dennis M. Lewis, FACHE
Director (ret.), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 20, Veterans Health Administration
Neal Neuberger, CISSP
Hugh Tilson, MD, DrPH, MPH
Adjunct Professor of Public Health Leadership at the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health
Constance (Connie) Walker, MS
Founder and President of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Director of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Foundation’s Institute for e-Health Policy
Siobhan Wescott, MD, MPH
William Oetgen, MD, MBA, FACP, FACC
Distinguished Service Professor of Public Health and Medicine
Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Georgetown University School of Medicine
Affiliate Clinical Professor at the University of Alaska
Jay Wolfson, DrPH, JD
OUR SERVICES Strategic advisory services Strategy and change management Research and analysis Policy and planning Performance optimization and process improvement Program and knowledge management Evaluation Event design, coordination, and facilitation Clinical research support and regulatory affairs Clinical trial design and clinical program management Scientific and technical consulting Protocols, investigator brochures, trial reports, manuscripts FDA submissions and regulatory strategy development Strategic reimbursement consulting
Strategic communications Marketing and outreach strategy Website development Graphic design Knowledge translation Health policy, management, and implementation science Health services research and policy analysis Evidence-based pilots and demonstrations Program and performance measurement Health systems interventions and capacitybuilding Access and quality improvement initiatives Translation of research into policy and practice Outreach, training, and education programs
AREAS OF EXPERTISE Health care quality and performance measurement Systems of care and care delivery innovations Veterans and military health
Health disparities and health equity Health information technology Emergency preparedness and response Rural health
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A Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business DUNS: 82-756-0744 NAICS: 541310, 541330, 541519, 541611, 541612, 541613, 541614, 541618, 541690, 541711, 541712, 541720, 541990, 561499, 611430, 621330, 621498, 624229, 624310