Chief Executive Officer
As President and Chief Executive Officer of the West Virginia Medical Institute and its affiliates, Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, Quality Insights of Delaware and Quality Insights Renal Network, John C. Wiesendanger is responsible for oversight of a diverse range of large federal, state and commercial projects focused on health care quality improvement and assurance.
On behalf of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), WVMI & Quality Insights serves as the federally designated Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) in three states. QIOs improve the quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries. Under CMS’ End Stage Renal Disease Network (ESRD) program, WVMI & Quality Insights improves care for kidney patients in New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. WVMI & Quality Insights is also the national quality improvement contractor for the Department of Veterans Affairs, provides prior authorization and case management services to Medicaid agencies, and conducts nationwide quality reviews for the American College of Cardiology.
Under Mr. Wiesendanger’s leadership, WVMI & Quality Insights has taken a lead role in patient safety and health information technology. Mr. Wiesendanger oversaw the founding of the West Virginia Center for Patient Safety and the successful implementation of an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) grant aimed at using technology to improve patient safety in rural hospitals.
In the area of HIT, Mr. Wiesendanger has led projects to assess privacy and confidentiality issues related to the creation of health information networks, researched and launched a public education campaign centered on privacy and security, and developed a roadmap for creation of the West Virginia Health Information Network (WVHIN). He was appointed to the WVHIN board by the governor. Mr. Wiesendanger has also taken a key leadership role in the formation of regional health information technology networks in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware and oversaw WVMI’s participation in the National Health Information Network (NHIN) demonstration projects.
Because of his leadership in health care quality, Mr. Wiesendanger has presented at several national meetings and has participated in educational initiatives as well. This includes guest lecturing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and receiving an appointment as a Senior Scholar at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. Wiesendanger also serves on a technical expert panel focused on reducing the prevalence of central line-associated bloodstream infections, and he is an editorial board member of the Journal of the American College of Medical Quality.
Mr. Wiesendanger oversees a staff of more than 300 employees and independent contractors whose skills include quality improvement, data analysis, IT systems development and project management.
Before joining WVMI, Mr. Wiesendanger was President/Chief Executive Officer of several health corporations and hospitals in the Northeastern United States. He has more than 35 years of executive experience in planning, organizing and managing programs and services in health care related organizations.