Quality Measurement – Reward Health

Physicians want fewer quality measures, but more might be better if it motivates core process improvement rather than “studying for the test”

A JAMA study reports that PCPs are contractually held accountable for 57 unique quality metrics and asserts that is “oversaturation.” I have disagreed with the premise that we need fewer measures. On the contrary, I believe that we actually need a lot more measures to finally convince health care provider organizations to stop trying to “study for the test” and to actually learn the subject and improve the core processes that drive health care quality.

Physicians want fewer quality measures, but more might be better if it motivates core process improvement rather than “studying for the test” Read More »

What should we do when there is a clash between two noble goals: consumer transparency and quality improvement? Five proposed principles.

6 Comments / Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), Outcomes Monitoring, Quality Measurement, Satisfaction Measurement / Dr. Ward

For many years, I’ve been following and writing blog posts about one of my heroes, Don Berwick, a physician leader, Obama-era CMS Administrator and one of most eloquent, persistent and effective advocates for quality improvement in health care. In a recent viewpoint article in JAMA, Dr. Berwick and two physician co-authors, Thom Meyer (from Duke)

What should we do when there is a clash between two noble goals: consumer transparency and quality improvement? Five proposed principles. Read More »

Klar 1: Key points of agreement about changes needed for Medicare Shared Savings Program

3 Comments / ACO Reimbursement and Gain Sharing, Quality Measurement / Dr. Ward

Ron Klar, MD, MPH is a health care consultant with a long history of involvement in federal health care policy and health plan innovation. He recently did an analysis of the draft rules for the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP), the Medicare program that establishes accountable care organizations (ACOs). Dr. Klar published his critique as

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Improving Adult Flu Immunization

Clinical Practice Guidelines and Protocols, Continuing Medical Education, Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), Quality Measurement, Registries / Dr. Ward

Background The US Preventive Services Task Force established national evidence-based guidelines for adult immunization as part of their 1993 and 1996 review processes. After a review by Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) general internists, family practitioners, and infectious disease specialists, these guidelines were endorsed by the HFHS Prevention Committee. The Prevention Committee’s recommendations were subsequently

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