June 20, 2024
Media Contact:
Chase Cook, Director, Office of Communications, 410-767-8649
Maryland Department of Health announces national search for Office of Health Care Quality executive director
Baltimore, MD — The Maryland Department of Health today announced the national search for a new executive director of the Office of Health Care Quality. The Department will announce the replacement when found and anticipates the search will take several months.
Physicians and non-physicians can apply for the Office of Health Care Quality executive director position.
“We are committed to finding a highly qualified health care quality expert to lead this critical office,” said Health Department Secretary Dr. Laura Herrera Scott. “Marylanders expect our regulated health care providers to provide high quality care to our patients, especially those who are most vulnerable.”
This action follows the resignation of Dr. Tricia Nay, effective June 27. Dr. Nay joined the office in 2008 and was appointed executive director in 2014 after serving as acting director since 2013. Deputy Secretary of Public Health Services Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman will serve as acting director while the national search is conducted.
The Office of Health Care Quality’s critical roles, including nursing home surveys, health care licensure, and complaint investigation, will continue while the search is conducted, and Department leadership is actively analyzing ways to further improve the processes of the Office. The Office of Health Care Quality is the agency within the Maryland Department of Health that determines compliance and non-compliance with State licensure and/or federal certification requirements in health care facilities and community-based programs in 47 industries.
The office’s mission is to protect the health and safety of Marylanders and to ensure there is public confidence in the health care and community service delivery systems. The Office of Health Care Quality vision is that all those receiving care in Maryland can trust that their health care facility or program is licensed and has met the regulatory standards for the services that they offer.
“There is much work to be done within the Office of Health Care Quality,” said Deputy Secretary of Public Health Services Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman. “Since the pandemic, health care services across the country have struggled as they reel from staffing setbacks and other challenges. The Department will hire leadership that builds trust and maintains Maryland’s strict standards for quality care.”
On behalf of the Maryland Secretary of Health, the office issues State licenses that authorize the operation of certain health care facilities or programs in Maryland, such as nursing homes or assisted living programs. The State licensure requirements establish the minimum health and safety requirements to obtain and maintain a license to operate in Maryland.
If someone thinks a facility is not meeting those standards, a complaint can be filed online. There are also paper and fax options available. The best way to file a complaint is to submit the Online Complaint Form. The complaint is immediately routed to the correct unit and entered into the system. Please submit any accompanying documents or materials with the initial complaint.
If the complaint is related to billing, contact the Maryland Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 410-528-8662 or visit https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov.
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The Maryland Department of Health is dedicated to protecting and improving the health and safety of all Marylanders through disease prevention, access to care, quality management and community engagement.
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