Institute:Office of National Coordinator (ONC) Workforce Training Curriculum
Component:The Culture of Health Care
Unit:Quality Measurement and Improvement
Lecture:Definitions and framework for assessing quality
What is known about health care quality
Slide content:Additional Resources Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) Program HCI3s Bridges to Excellence Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) National Quality Forum (NQF) The Joint Commission 15
Slide notes:Many organizations are working to improve patient care quality through various industrywide efforts that provide public resources such as guidelines, topical case studies, and research studies for health care providers. A few examples are identified on this slide. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program is one of the largest federal programs dedicated to improving health quality at the community level. The program is focused on [quote] care coordination across all care settings to transform health care delivery for Medicare beneficiaries. The QIO Program operates through a national network of QIOs across the U.S., which are independent, mostly non-profit, private organizations staffed by health care professionals and quality improvement experts working to improve the quality and efficiency of health care across all care settings.[end quote] The goal of the Health Care Incentives Improvement Institute, or HCI3, is to improve health care quality and value with evidence-based incentive programs. Guided by a board of directors that includes physicians, employers, and health plan representatives, the focus areas include health outcomes measurements, preventable care defects, and realignment of provider payment incentives around quality. This multi-employer effort supports the Bridges to Excellence activities. Quality Enhanced Research Initiative (QUERI) is aimed at improving the quality of health care for veterans by using research evidence to improve care and clinical practice. The National Committee for Quality Assurance, or the NCQA [N-C-Q-A] is [quote] dedicated to improving health care quality.. . . The NCQA seal is a widely recognized symbol of quality. Organizations incorporating the seal into marketing materials must first pass a rigorous, comprehensive review and must annually report on their performance. For consumers and employers, the seal is a reliable indicator that an organization is well-managed and delivers high-quality care and service. [end quote] The National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) is a membership and certification organization of health care quality professionals working in all health care settings. NAHQ is the only organization to offer accreditation for Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, or CPHQ. The National Quality Forum (NQF) fosters quality improvement in both public and private sectors. NQF endorsement is the gold standard for health care quality. This organization endorses measures that are evidence-based, valid, and in tandem with the delivery of care and payment reform. The Joint Commissions accreditation includes its Key Quality Measures program of top performers, which recognizes accredited hospitals that attain excellence on accountability measure performance. [quote] The program is based on data reported about evidence-based clinical processes for certain conditions, including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, childrens asthma, inpatient psychiatric services, venous thromboembolism, stroke, perinatal care, immunization, tobacco treatment and substance use. [end quote] The Joint Commission monitors hospitals to ensure they achieve the required reporting standards. These are just a few of the organizations in the United States. There are many international organizations focused on quality as well. 15