About Us

Our Story

Qsource’s journey begins not in an office or a boardroom, but in a moment of national change. In 1965, the Social Security Act transformed American healthcare by mandating that every state establish an independent body to evaluate the quality and cost of care for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. That provision would lay the groundwork for who we are today.

By 1973, that vision took root in Tennessee as the Shelby County Foundation for Medical Care, founded by Dr. Leon Swatzell. As one of the nation’s early Professional Standards Review Organizations (PSROs), our mission was clear: evaluate care, reduce unnecessary costs, and improve health outcomes. That mission—refined over the decades—continues to guide us.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, as PSROs evolved into Peer Review Organizations (PROs) and then Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs), we grew in both responsibility and impact. We became Tennessee’s Medicare QIO in 1984, a designation that allowed us to help define and shape healthcare quality statewide. In the decades since, our footprint has expanded, and so has our scope.

We’ve served as the Medicare QIO for multiple states, led CMS initiatives in patient safety and opioid misuse, launched statewide campaigns to reduce hospital readmissions, and spearheaded value-based care strategies. Along the way, we have partnered with hospitals, nursing homes, physician practices, dialysis centers, health departments, and state Medicaid agencies—all with the goal of transforming systems of care to improve health outcomes for individuals and populations.

Today, Qsource is a mission-driven nonprofit that brings five decades of experience to one unshakable belief: better care is possible when people work together. Our teams include former nursing home administrators, Directors of Nursing, state surveyors, MDS coordinators, clinicians, and data experts—professionals who know firsthand what it takes to meet compliance standards, elevate care quality, and support staff in doing their best work every day.

For nursing homes and long-term care facilities, we offer more than a checklist of services—we offer practical, proven solutions rooted in empathy and experience. Whether you’re preparing for a survey, responding to an Immediate Jeopardy citation, or trying to improve your star rating, we’re by your side.

Our work is grounded in collaboration. We listen. We learn. We adapt. And we stay focused on what matters most: helping healthcare teams deliver high-quality care that improves lives.

Qsource continues to evolve alongside the healthcare system, but our purpose remains constant—advancing quality, driving improvement, and partnering with providers to build healthier communities.