"My objective is to work with PHMI and its partners around the world to develop and review patient-centered standards that are culturally adaptable, as well as a process that stimulates improvement."
 


  • Senior Consultant, Partners Harvard Medical International
  • President, International Society for Quality in Health Care
  • Consultant, Joint Commission International
  • Executive Director, International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
  • Professor Emeritus, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center

Dr. Helfrick plays a key role in PHMI programs aimed at helping health care institutions institute best practices for high-quality care and patient safety. He became a Senior Consultant for then-Harvard Medical International in 2003.

Dr. Helfrick has served in various capacities with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) since 1984, and for eight years was a member of its Board of Commissioners. In 1997 and 1998 he served as Chairman of the Board of the Joint Commission. Under his leadership as Chairman, several task forces were created to address important emerging issues for the Joint Commission. These included the JC Oversight Group, which developed Joint Commission International, the Accreditation Process Improvement Task Force, the Complex Organization Task Force, and the Restraint Standards Task Force. Dr. Helfrick also played a leading role in the development of the Joint Commission’s approach to addressing sentinel events in health care organizations. In February 2000, Dr Helfrick stepped down from the Board of Commissioners and became Vice President of Joint Commission International and Executive Director of International Relations until January 2003.

Dr. Helfrick is a graduate of Indiana University and received his oral and maxillofacial surgery training at Sinai Hospital of Detroit. He chaired the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Sinai 1973 to 1984 and served as President of the hospital’s medical staff of 600 physicians from 1982-1984. From 1984-2000 he was Professor and Chairman of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston. He had additional appointments as Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical School and as Clinical Professor of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. From 1985 to 1997 he was Director of the University of Texas Health Science Center Cleft Palate/Craniofacial Deformity Team. Dr. Helfrick has over 40 publications in the scientific literature and has participated extensively in clinical and laboratory research. Dr. Helfrick chaired the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons special committee on the development of Parameters of Care for a period of ten years, and in 1991 he was the recipient of a $1.5 million grant from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research to study the dissemination of professional parameters of care. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and in 1993 was recipient of that Association’s Distinguished Service Award. In 1997 he was awarded honorary Fellowship in the Royal College of Surgeons, London, England.
 
Dr. Helfrick is a Past President of the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (IAOMS) and is currently President of the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua). In 2003 he became a Senior Consultant for Harvard Medical International and part-time Executive Director of the IAOMS.

Read an interview with Dr. Helfrick from PHMI WORLD: A quality conversation with Dr. John Helfrick

 

Bibliography 2005 Bibliography 2004
  • Kleefield S, Helfrick J, Mehta M, Crone R. "Patient Central: Development of a Patient Focused Quality Oversight Program for a Health Care City." International Society for Quality In Healthcare (ISQUA), Amsterdam. (Abstract)