Delaware News

Secretary Walker Announces Appointment of New Director to Lead DHSS’ Division of Health Care Quality

Delaware Health and Social Services | News | Date Posted: Tuesday, September 3, 2019



NEW CASTLE (Sept. 3, 2019) – Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Dr. Kara Walker announced the appointment of Yrene Waldron, former Executive Director of the Delaware Health Care Facilities Association, to lead the Division of Health Care Quality. She will begin her duties Sept. 16.

“I am thrilled that Yrene is joining our Department as director of the Division of Health Care Quality,” Secretary Walker said. “As the former director of the Delaware Health Care Facilities Association, she brings extensive experience working with health care system and their staffs to her new role. She understands how the health care system works, the important role it plays in caring for and keeping Delawareans safe, and the role our Division of Health Care Quality which promotes quality care and the enforcement of state and federal laws and regulations.”

The Division of Health Care Quality, one of 11 divisions in the Department of Health and Social Services, has 72 full-time equivalent employees and an annual budget of $6.2 million for Fiscal Year 2020. The division’s mission is to protect patients and residents in health care agencies and facilities across the state. DHCQ staff licenses and certifies a broad range of facilities, homes and agencies, including nursing homes, hospitals, free-standing emergency departments, skilled home health agencies, office-based surgery facilities and group homes for individuals with mental illness.

The division also maintains an Adult Abuse Registry, a Criminal Background Check System for people who work in health care facilities and for agencies, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Registry, a Complaint and Incident Reporting System, and other enforcement systems.

“I am sincerely grateful and humbled by the opportunity to serve as the Director of Health Care Quality Division and look forward to working with stakeholders across the health care continuum on our mutual goals of improving health care quality outcomes,” said Yrene Waldron.

Waldron worked in the acute care setting prior to serving as the Executive Director of the Delaware Health Care Facilities Association from 1998 until this year, when she retired. She was responsible for monitoring, reviewing and analyzing federal and state statutes and regulations, and communicating changes to her members; coordinating educational seminars; and representing the organization on boards and commissions in Delaware and nationally. Among her achievements was establishing meaningful and trusting relationships with state and federal legislators, the governor’s administration, state agencies and other related stakeholders in order to reach consensus on outcomes affecting health care facilities.

Before being named to her position at the Delaware Health Care Facilities Association, Waldron held various positions with health care facilities and hospitals in Delaware, Florida and Pennsylvania.

Waldron succeeds Mary Peterson, who retired in April.

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Secretary Walker Announces Appointment of New Director to Lead DHSS’ Division of Health Care Quality

Delaware Health and Social Services | News | Date Posted: Tuesday, September 3, 2019



NEW CASTLE (Sept. 3, 2019) – Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Dr. Kara Walker announced the appointment of Yrene Waldron, former Executive Director of the Delaware Health Care Facilities Association, to lead the Division of Health Care Quality. She will begin her duties Sept. 16.

“I am thrilled that Yrene is joining our Department as director of the Division of Health Care Quality,” Secretary Walker said. “As the former director of the Delaware Health Care Facilities Association, she brings extensive experience working with health care system and their staffs to her new role. She understands how the health care system works, the important role it plays in caring for and keeping Delawareans safe, and the role our Division of Health Care Quality which promotes quality care and the enforcement of state and federal laws and regulations.”

The Division of Health Care Quality, one of 11 divisions in the Department of Health and Social Services, has 72 full-time equivalent employees and an annual budget of $6.2 million for Fiscal Year 2020. The division’s mission is to protect patients and residents in health care agencies and facilities across the state. DHCQ staff licenses and certifies a broad range of facilities, homes and agencies, including nursing homes, hospitals, free-standing emergency departments, skilled home health agencies, office-based surgery facilities and group homes for individuals with mental illness.

The division also maintains an Adult Abuse Registry, a Criminal Background Check System for people who work in health care facilities and for agencies, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Registry, a Complaint and Incident Reporting System, and other enforcement systems.

“I am sincerely grateful and humbled by the opportunity to serve as the Director of Health Care Quality Division and look forward to working with stakeholders across the health care continuum on our mutual goals of improving health care quality outcomes,” said Yrene Waldron.

Waldron worked in the acute care setting prior to serving as the Executive Director of the Delaware Health Care Facilities Association from 1998 until this year, when she retired. She was responsible for monitoring, reviewing and analyzing federal and state statutes and regulations, and communicating changes to her members; coordinating educational seminars; and representing the organization on boards and commissions in Delaware and nationally. Among her achievements was establishing meaningful and trusting relationships with state and federal legislators, the governor’s administration, state agencies and other related stakeholders in order to reach consensus on outcomes affecting health care facilities.

Before being named to her position at the Delaware Health Care Facilities Association, Waldron held various positions with health care facilities and hospitals in Delaware, Florida and Pennsylvania.

Waldron succeeds Mary Peterson, who retired in April.

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.