Although there were many questions and concerns when ASCO first rolled out the quality program, McNiff says the aggregate results have been very helpful to members. ASCO is considering a certification program for practices that reach certain performance thresholds based on the indicators.
One way to maximize quality measures is to track ones that can also do double or triple duty for certification, credentialing, and other practical purposes, says Dr. Ferris, who presented on the efforts at Massachusetts General to develop and track quality indicators.
“We have at least two quantitative measures on every doctor at Mass General,” he says. He calls the quality measure development at the hospital “grassroots” and says that another good place to start for data management is with “low-hanging fruit,” such as data from notes in the electronic medical record.
For more information about the ACR Rheumatology Clinical Registry or to participate in the limited launch phase beginning in January, contact Amy S. Miller, ACR senior director of research, training, and quality, at [email protected]. For more information on the 2008 ACR Quality Stakeholders Summit or previous years’ summits, go to www.rheumatology.org/practice/qmc/collaboration.asp.
Vanessa Caceres is a medical writer and editor based in Virginia.
References
- Kohn LT, Corrigan JM, Donaldson MS (Institute of Medicine). To err is human: Building a safer health system. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1999.
- Institute of Medicine. Crossing the quality chasm: A new health system for the 21st century. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 2001.
