Quality News Today

Reports to Help Doctors Gauge Performance
In the coming weeks many Indiana primary-care physicians will be getting report cards of sorts.

The electronic report doesn't give out letter grades. Instead, it is designed to let doctors know how they are doing in making sure patients with certain conditions or risk factors get recommended follow-up tests or treatments, such as Type 2 diabetics having their blood sugar tested regularly, and getting intended results.

It's a pilot project involving Medicare and the nonprofit corporation Indiana Health Information Exchange.

Sponsored by:
	a business unit of SAS, develops JMP® software, which brings comprehensive data analysis to the desktop, empowering users to interactively explore, visualize, and understand their data

The Market for Virtue: The Potential and Limits of Corporate Social Responsibility
David Vogel

This book explores the extent to which improvements in corporate conduct can occur without more extensive or effective government regulation—in the United States, Europe, the Far East, and developing nations. In other words, what is the long-term potential of business self-regulation? The improvement that can be expected is far more modest than recent breathless writing on corporate social responsibility would indicate. At some point, many businesses must choose between doing what seems ethically right and what is most profitable. Since businesses are typically found to make money—and because shareholders and capitalism demand that they do so—the bottom line tends to win out. There is a market for virtue, but it is limited by the substantial costs of more responsible business behavior.

And take a look at these fine titles:

• ANSI/ISO CD1 9001:2009, ANSI/ISO CD1 9004:2009: Committee Drafts (free of charge!)
• ANSI/ISO/ASQ Q9000-2005: Quality management systems - Fundamentals and vocabulary
• The ASQ Auditing Handbook, Third Edition

John Vandenbemden
Master Six Sigma Black Belt
QAI Training LLC

Throughout his career, John Vandenbemden has had many roles—each needing different skill sets.  However, the useful knowledge he has received from ASQ events, products, and services is a constant.  And this is knowledge he can share with his clients.

Currently, Vandenbemden provides training and consulting in ISO 9001:2000, TS 16949, AS 9100, ISO 14001, and OSHA 18001.  He has trained individuals in core quality tools and problem solving for more than 20 years.

“The special part of my job is to see the success these individuals bring to their organizations,” explained Vandenbemden.  He also noted that helping individuals achieve Six Sigma certification has been especially rewarding.  “Mentoring and coaching Six Sigma candidates for certification has provided financial benefits—as well as cultural changes—within their organizations.”  All ASQ certifications provide credibility to the work being accomplished. 

Vandenbemden feels so strongly about ASQ certification and the credibility it lends to certified workers and their organizations, he set out to be part of the Certification Board.  The five years that Vandenbemden spent on the Certification Board provided him with a network that he still works with today.

“The experience gained is beyond explaining with words,” said Vandenbemden. “It was a major factor in my being recognized as an ASQ Fellow.”

The ASQ certifications have provided Vandenbemden with the opportunity to work with the ASQ exam development process and eventually becoming a member of the Certification Board. The impact has provided Vandenbemden the opportunity to work with and become a member of the Inspection Division.

Related information
Read more about ASQ certification and the Six Sigma Black Belt certification