100 Most Influential People in Healthcare - 2024

Mercado has worked to prioritize quality as a major tenet of healthcare excellence for more than a decade as the CEO of NAHQ. This year, more than 7,000 members and certified professionals in healthcare quality joined the organization, bringing the total to 21,000. It also introduced two executive boot camps, five learning labs and town halls. Mercado negotiated a strategic alliance with The Joint Commission, through which the organizations will collaborate on the development of “micro-credentials” — including one on regulation and accreditation. She also secured a key endorsement for the implementation of NAHQ’s Competency Framework and CPHQ credential. The results will include a multiyear, multimillion-dollar capital infusion. As a sought-after advocate for quality and safety in healthcare, Mercado has been invited to meetings at the White House and served on key panels with regulators.