QIOs have a significant role in the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care, which exceeded a previous goal to reduce the use of antipsychotic drugs among nursing home residents
Washington, D.C. — Dr. Adrienne Mims, vice president and chief medical officer of Atlanta-based Alliant GMCF, the Quality Innovation Network (QIN) Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for Georgia and North Carolina, and president of the American Health Quality Association (AHQA), released the following statement regarding the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) announcement of new national goals to reduce the use of antipsychotic medications among nursing home residents.
“AHQA applauds CMS for continuing its commitment to provide better health care and enhance the quality of life for nursing home residents with dementia by establishing new national goals for the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care. The work of QIOs was integral to the prior success of the partnership, which reduced the national prevalence of antipsychotic drugs in long-stay nursing home residents by 15.1 percent from 2011 to 2013, and QIOs will work closely with providers to achieve the new goals of a 25 percent reduction by the end of 2015 and a 30 percent reduction by the end of 2016.
“QIOs work hand-in-hand with local providers, consumers, and stakeholders across the continuum of care—including in nursing homes—to improve systems of health care delivery and ensure better, safer health care. The American Health Quality Association represents the national network of QIOs working to advance the quality of care for America’s nearly 50 million Medicare beneficiaries.
“The effort to reduce the inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs is a significant portion of QIO efforts to support quality improvements in thousands of nursing homes across the nation. In addition to helping to accelerate the goals of the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care, QIO efforts complement the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Home Campaign. Among other improvements, QIOs helped low-performing nursing homes achieve a 34 percent reduction in high-risk pressure ulcers among residents from 2011-2014.
“QIOs look forward to furthering their work with CMS and other partners in nursing homes across the country in the coming months to spread knowledge and meet the CMS partnership challenge. These efforts reflect a deep commitment to protecting nursing home residents and promoting person-centered care.”
Media Contact:
Sofia Kosmetatos | (202) 603-8516 | skosmetatos@ahqa.org