Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) Support Hospital Efforts to Report Quality Data and Improve Care
Statement by AHQA Executive Vice President David Schulke

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today that nearly all the nation’s eligible hospitals have begun reporting quality data to CMS. This information will not only help consumers make better informed health care choices, but more importantly, it will allow hospitals to more quickly identify and address quality problems.

This is a great example of the power of pay-for-performance incentives. It should help both hospitals and patients by speeding the pace of quality measurement and improvement. As a result of quality data reporting, Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) will have more timely information to help hospitals put systems and processes in place so that every person gets the right care, every time.

CMS turned to the QIOs to assist hospitals with the process of abstracting and submitting data in order to receive the full hospital annual payment update for 2005. QIOs helped many hospitals install and utilize a computerized abstraction and reporting tool; provided data abstraction training to hospital staff; provided hospitals with guidance on the reporting registration process and offered technical assistance to overcome problems. The QIOs continued to offer assistance right up until the final deadline to ensure that every eligible hospital submitted the data and earned the payment incentive.

Developing the process for hospitals to collect and submit quality data successfully has required a tremendous effort on the part of the hospitals, CMS, the hospital associations and the QIOs. This was especially difficult under the compressed timeframe required by the Medicare Modernization Act.

This was a huge task that needed to be done in minimal time. The success of this effort was dependent on the collaboration of all the stakeholders. It wasn’t always easy, but I’m delighted with the results. And I’m very proud of the tremendous contribution made by the QIOs.

The American Health Quality Association is dedicated to improving the safety and effectiveness of health care. AHQA represents the national network of Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) that work with hospitals, medical practices, health plans, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, and employers to encourage the spread of best clinical practices and improve systems of care delivery. Visit: www.ahqa.org.