health of california's residents. institute for medical quality in january 1996, the california medical association launched a new not-for-profit subsidiary, the institute for medical quality (imq), to help improve the quality of care delivered to patients in california. its programs include ambulatory care facility accreditation, the consolidated accreditation and licensure survey program, continuing medical education accreditation and certification, correctional health care accreditation and membership, peer review consultations, extensive educational programs and research. audio-digest foundation the audio-digest foundation is a continuing education provider that was an affiliate of the california medical association (cma). in january 2008, audio-digest foundation and marathon multimedia became learners digest international (ldi). ldi was formed by housatonic, who acquired and consolidated these two businesses formerly owned by the california medical association. in august 2015, ldi was acquired by wolters kluwer health division for $150 million cash. the organization was established in 1953 and was founded by jerry lyle pettis. it currently employs 70 full-time staff members and is based in glendale, california. the organization produces continuing medical education/continuing education (cme/ce) audio programs for physicians and health care professionals who subscribe. programs are published on 15 specialties. these are typically audio tapes of meetings (such as seminars, short courses at universities, conferences and symposia) at which experts present new research. the organization is accredited to provide continuing education to physicians by the accreditation council for continuing medical education, to nurses (by the american nurses credentialing center's commission of accreditation), and to physician assistants (by the american academy of physician assistants, which accepts educational activities by accme-accredited organizations up to a certain number of credits).