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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is reaching out to organizations to highlight the ID Connect consultation resource. Community organizations have expended significant effort to develop COVID-19 policies to support the safety of individuals during the pandemic. This effort has created an important base of knowledge, which can serve as the foundation for broader infection control policies and practices.
ID Connect consultations can help with difficult policy development and implementation related to infectious diseases. Some examples:
ID Connect can be contacted through regional Healthcare Quality Units (HCQU) to set up a consultation. For more information, please contact your regional HCQU.
HCQU Website | Counties Served |
KEPRO Southwest HCQU | Westmoreland, Allegheny, Bedford/Somerset, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Washington |
Milestone West HCQU | Butler, Armstrong/Indiana, Beaver, Clarion, Venango, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence |
Central PA HCQU | Northumberland, Blair, Centre, Columbia/Montour/Snyder/Union, Huntingdon/Mifflin/Juniata, Lycoming/Clinton, Schuylkill |
Eastern PA HCQU | Carbon/Monroe/Pike, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton |
Northeast PA HCQU | Lackawanna/Susquehanna, Bradford/Sullivan, Luzerne/Wyoming, Tioga, Wayne |
Philadelphia Coordinated Health (PCHC) | Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery |
South Central PA HCQU | Cumberland/Perry, Adams/York, Dauphin, Franklin/Fulton, Lancaster, Lebanon |
Milestone Northwest HCQU | Clearfield/Jefferson, Forest/Warren, Cameron/Elk, McKean, Erie, Potter |
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Bulletin 00-18-03 describes the functions of the Health Care Quality Units (HCQUs) in Pennsylvania. ODP created the HCQUs due to their commitment to maintain and improve the health of people with IDD or autism living in Pennsylvania, and they are a key component of the states’ Home and Community-Based Services quality management, risk management and mitigation, and training strategies.
All HCQU activity is intended to minimize risk to individual health and wellbeing though proactive and preventive measures. The HCQUs do not provide crisis intervention services or direct health care services, write stakeholder policies and procedures, or conduct incident investigations. The HCQUs do not replace existing community resources. Each HCQU must comply with reporting requirements as per the direction of ODP.
HCQU Functions:
There are currently eight Health Care Quality Units in Pennsylvania. ODP recognizes the lead Administrative Entity through the regional consortium. Administrative Entities enter into a contractual relationship with an HCQU and are expected to evaluate the performance with an HCQU at all times. The Administrative Entities, in coordination with ODP, are expected to collaborate with HCQUs as appropriate to develop and implement priorities such as quality management activities and behavioral health. If you have any questions, contact Carol Ferenz, RCPA IDD Division Director.