ClearHealth Quality Institute TM (CHQI), a health accreditation and certification organization formed to address disparities in the practice of medicine, is pleased to announce the appointment of Doug Clarke as Executive Director of Accreditation Programs, effective June 1.

In his new role, Clarke will oversee all accreditation and certification programs, value-based purchasing standards, and health outcome measures to help the payer and provider communities achieve parity between medicine and health access.

"Doug brings over 12 years of experience in developing standards for accreditation and certification programs," said Garry Carneal, JD MA, CHQI Founder. "He is committed to promoting quality-based programs in healthcare and has excelled in the development of national standards for several organizations. His leadership and acumen will help CHQI become a nationally recognized accreditation agency in a time where traditional accreditation and regulatory models need to be updated."

Prior to joining CHQI, Clarke served as Director of Accreditation programs at the American Telemedicine Association, where he developed program policies and procedures, and managed all accreditation processes. His previous roles include experience as Associate Director and Lead Accreditation Specialist for the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), Chief Academic Officer in the higher education setting, and faculty member at the post-secondary level.

Among other immediate tasks, Clarke will oversee the development of CHQI's Telemedicine Accreditation Program. Currently, CHQI is seeking volunteers to participate in CHQI's Telemedicine Standards Committee. In May, the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and CHQI launched a joint venture to develop the next generation of telemedicine standards. For more information, see the joint press release. Clarke's transfer from ATA to CHQI is part of the strategic alliance.

Clarke holds a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University in Portland, Oregon, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

For more information about CHQI, our accreditation and certification programs, educational resources, or the many programs and services offered, please contact Julie Irons, Manager of Accreditation, at (410) 696-7634 or via email at info@chqi.com.

About ClearHealth Quality Institute™ (CHQI) (www.CHQI.com)

ClearHealth Quality Institute's (CHQI) mission is to promote quality-based practices for health plans, providers and other stakeholders across the United States and its territories. Our accreditation and certification programs help assess, track and report on trends to enhance key insurance and provider outcomes. CHQI also offers educational programs, publishes issue briefs and underwrites research to raise awareness of patient safety issues and promote best practices. The organization is governed by an independent board and committee system, which is open to a wide-range of volunteers to ensure transparency and accountability. CHQI provides resources to serve patients, providers, payers, government agencies, and other stakeholder groups. To learn more about CHQI, please contact us at (410) 696-7634 or info@CHQI.com.