{"id":942,"date":"2022-08-18T13:58:30","date_gmt":"2022-08-18T13:58:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/?page_id=942"},"modified":"2026-01-15T14:05:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T14:05:13","slug":"improvement-in-health-and-healthcare","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/improvement-in-health-and-healthcare\/","title":{"rendered":"Improvement in Health and Health Care (IHHC)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\">\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shutterstock_566980090-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28\" style=\"width:324px;height:215px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shutterstock_566980090-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shutterstock_566980090-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shutterstock_566980090-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shutterstock_566980090-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shutterstock_566980090-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/new-diplomates\/\"><strong>New Diplomates<\/strong><\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/reporting\/\"><strong>Reporting<\/strong><\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/assessment-abpath-certlink\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Assessment<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/education-providers-cme\/\"><strong>CME<\/strong><\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/cc_boi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC Booklet of Information<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/meeting-cc-requirements-late\/\">Meeting CC Requirements Late<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/certificates\/\">Certificates<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/lapel-pins\/\">Lapel Pins<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/retired-status\/\">Retired Status<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:15px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Improvement in Health and Heath Care (IHHC) Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>IHHC was formerly known as \u201cImprovement in Medical Practice&#8221; (IMP). <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Each pathologist must participate in at least two PI\/QA activities or programs per two-year period appropriate for their principal professional activities. An activity option can only be reported once per year. The only exception is the ABMS Portfolio Program which will count for every year cover by an activity&#8217;s reported duration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Participated in CLIA mandated cytology proficiency testing and passed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Was an inspector for a Laboratory Accreditation Agency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Meaningfully participated in a departmental or institutional quality committee (e.g., transfusion, infection control, patient safety, etc.).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Participated in an ABPath-approved slide review program (e.g., CAP\u2019s PIP, ASCP\u2019s CheckPath, etc.).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Participated in a QA\/PI program sponsored by your institution\/department approved by ABPath for IHHC credit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Participated in a society-sponsored QA\/PI program which counts for IHHC.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Participated in an activity reported through the ABMS Portfolio Program.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Implemented a Choosing Wisely, and\/or other test utilization, recommendation\/initiative at your practice or institution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Participated in a Joint Commission OPPE at your practice or institution approved by ABPath for IHHC credit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Submit at least 21 items into the ABPath CertLink<sup>&nbsp;\u00ae<\/sup> voluntary item submission process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Complete an activity through an organization which is an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) for an Alternative Payment Model (APM).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Referring a case to the Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding a death that may have been preventable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Referring a case to the NTSB or OSHA which was related to patient care.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A peer reviewed publication that improves practice or patient care (first, second, or senior author). This activity counts as a PI\/QA activity for the year of publication.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:1px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Program Director or Associate Program Director for an ACGME-accredited residency or fellowship program who initiates an activity that improves medical education.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>A<em>s of January 2026<\/em>, the option to report activities to better understand the COVID-19 virus is no longer available.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Individual (PI\/QA) Activity Approval Forms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Application forms are available below for approval of departmental PI\/QA activities or OPPE that are not part of a previously-approved program. These forms and supporting documentation should be submitted to ABPath for approval determination before being reported by the diplomate to meet the IHHC requirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/ihhc-application\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Application for Department IHHC Activity Approval<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/oppe_app\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Application for Joint Commission OPPE IHHC Activity Approval<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#eef5ff\"><em>ABPath reserves the right to audit a pathologist\u2019s participation in PI\/QA activities and may require documentation to be submitted by the diplomate.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New Diplomates Reporting Assessment CME CC Booklet of Information Meeting CC Requirements Late Certificates Lapel Pins Retired Status Improvement in Health and Heath Care (IHHC) Overview IHHC was formerly known as \u201cImprovement in Medical Practice&#8221; (IMP). Each pathologist must participate in at least two PI\/QA&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-942","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Improvement in Health and Health Care (IHHC) - American Board of Pathology<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/improvement-in-health-and-healthcare\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Improvement in Health and Health Care (IHHC) - American Board of Pathology\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"New Diplomates Reporting Assessment CME CC Booklet of Information Meeting CC Requirements Late Certificates Lapel Pins Retired Status Improvement in Health and Heath Care (IHHC) Overview IHHC was formerly known as \u201cImprovement in Medical Practice&#8221; (IMP). Each pathologist must participate in at least two PI\/QA...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/improvement-in-health-and-healthcare\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"American Board of Pathology\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/theABPath\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-15T14:05:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shutterstock_566980090-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@TheABPath\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Improvement in Health and Health Care (IHHC) - American Board of Pathology","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/improvement-in-health-and-healthcare\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Improvement in Health and Health Care (IHHC) - American Board of Pathology","og_description":"New Diplomates Reporting Assessment CME CC Booklet of Information Meeting CC Requirements Late Certificates Lapel Pins Retired Status Improvement in Health and Heath Care (IHHC) Overview IHHC was formerly known as \u201cImprovement in Medical Practice&#8221; (IMP). Each pathologist must participate in at least two PI\/QA...","og_url":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/improvement-in-health-and-healthcare\/","og_site_name":"American Board of Pathology","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/theABPath\/","article_modified_time":"2026-01-15T14:05:13+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1707,"url":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shutterstock_566980090-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@TheABPath","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/improvement-in-health-and-healthcare\/","url":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/improvement-in-health-and-healthcare\/","name":"Improvement in Health and Health Care (IHHC) - American Board of Pathology","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/improvement-in-health-and-healthcare\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/improvement-in-health-and-healthcare\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shutterstock_566980090-1024x683.jpg","datePublished":"2022-08-18T13:58:30+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-15T14:05:13+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/improvement-in-health-and-healthcare\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/abpath.org\/improvement-in-health-and-healthcare\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/improvement-in-health-and-healthcare\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shutterstock_566980090-1024x683.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shutterstock_566980090-1024x683.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/improvement-in-health-and-healthcare\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Improvement in Health and Health Care (IHHC)"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/","name":"American Board of Pathology","description":"American Board of Pathology","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/#organization","name":"American Board of Pathology","url":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/ABPath-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/ABPath-logo.png","width":1199,"height":1199,"caption":"American Board of Pathology"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/theABPath\/","https:\/\/x.com\/TheABPath","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/abpath","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/theabpath\/"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/942","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=942"}],"version-history":[{"count":46,"href":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/942\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9868,"href":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/942\/revisions\/9868"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=942"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}