NCI® Surveys with Qlarant

SERVICES

Qlarant’s mission statement is to deliver quality, clarity, and opportunity—we are a recognized leader in health care quality assurance and quality improvement (QI).

Qlarant offers states a unique set of skills and attributes that set us apart from the competition. Some of the key differentiators include the following features:

• Qlarant has managed statewide quality management contracts overseeing systems supporting people with IDD since 2001.
• Since 2001, we have completed over 100,000 individual interviews with people with IDD, unparalleled in the industry.
• Since 2007, we have completed over 24,000 NCI In-Person surveys for people with IDD.
• Since 2007, we have received back and entered into ODESA over 18,000 Family Surveys.
• Since 2015, we have conducted over 5,000 in-person and remote (virtual) NCI-AD surveys for the aging and physically disabled populations.
• We have significant experience interviewing people with alternative communication styles.
• We have held IDD quality-related contracts in 15 states and Washington D.C., establishing Qlarant as the most experienced organization of its kind.
• We analyze the data we capture and create reports containing findings and recommendations.
• We ensure our staff is highly skilled, adhering to non-intrusive approaches to interviews to create as little disruption as possible.
• We support our surveyors in their efforts to further their training, as evidenced by the fact our staff includes six team members certified through the Learning Community for Person-Centered Practices, and six certified Person-Centered Thinking Trainers, two of which are Person-Centered Thinking Mentor Trainers (certified to train others in Person-centered Thinking).
• Our external International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Auditor noted “The Rater Reliability data are outstanding and a sound, logical approach to what might otherwise be a subjective matter.”
• Qlarant is designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as a Quality Improvement Organization (QIO)-like entity and has been recognized as a Professional Standard Review Organization, Peer Review Organization, QIO, or QIO-like organization since the inception of those designations over 50 years ago.
• We have applied the key tenets of person directed services, informed choice, person-centered planning, community integration and inclusion, health/safety/well-being outcomes, and understanding and exercising rights to all of our IDD work for the last 23 years.
• Our tracking systems are customized for each contract to ensure managers can monitor deliverables, progress, and upcoming deadlines, resulting in Qlarant’s excellent record of accomplishment for meeting all production and reporting contract deliverables.

 

Qlarant has demonstrated proficiency in operating large NCI® and complex quality assurance projects for our many state customers. Our corporate infrastructure and staffing currently support dozens of contracts and simultaneously ensure all deliverables and other contractual obligations are met.

 

STAFFING

Qlarant understands the importance of ensuring our team has effective leadership, experience, credentials, passion, support, and tools needed to successfully implement any NCI contract. Based on our expertise in the startup of new contracts, we understand the steps needed to recruit, train, develop, and ensure the success of a strong team. Some of the key differentiators of Qlarant’s staffing approach are as follows:

• Qlarant hires leadership with an understanding of the service delivery system, the scope of work, and the landscape of the intellectual and developmental disability community.
• The team will receive guidance and support from Qlarant’s current leadership, people with knowledge and expertise who understand what it takes to start a project such as this one and the experience to help navigate challenges and develop creative solutions.
• We will ensure staff joining the team understand Qlarant’s values, goals, and mission of the project. This includes a solid understanding of person-centered service delivery and nationally recognized best practices and philosophies regarding survey processes.
• Qlarant empowers team members to create efficiencies, make informed decisions, and participate in the refinement of review processes.
• We ensure the team has the necessary training, education, tools, resources, and skillsets to support and implement the NCI processes.
• We provide a multitude of opportunities for skill development and professional growth and motivate the team to strengthen their expertise in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• We retain our experienced employees by creating a “best place to work” environment. Qlarant has won the Baltimore Sun’s “Top Workplaces” award five times since 2017.

 

By recruiting and hiring a strong and experienced team, providing comprehensive training and education, and creating a stimulating growth-oriented work environment, Qlarant ensures the immediate and long-term success of NCI contracts.