MINNEAPOLIS. June 5, 2008—A blue-ribbon team of health care experts, including MMA President-elect George Schoephoerster, M.D., has been assembled to participate in the 2008-2009 State Quality Improvement Institute.

The significance of this team is that it will likely provide major input to the work of implementing the health care reform plan enacted this past month by Gov. Pawlenty.

The State Quality Improvement Institute assists states that are ready to make substantial commitments to quality improvement, and to help them develop concrete action plans to turn commitments into reality.

Panel members were invited by Minnesota Commissioner of Human Services Cal Ludeman.

The first meeting of the Quality Institute Team was held May 20 in St. Paul.

A subgroup will attend the Quality Improvement Institute Kick-Off June 25-27 in Chicago. There they will spend time developing and refining the team plan, and report these changes to the full team. Schoephoerster will be part of the subgroup as well.