Reporting Initiatives
New AHRQ Toolkit Supports Hospital Efforts To Improve Quality and Safety
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released a free toolkit designed to guide hospitals through the process of using the AHRQ Inpatient Quality Indicators (IQIs) and Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs) to improve care.
The AHRQ Quality Indicators Toolkit for Hospitals is designed and tested to meet the needs of a variety of hospital-based users, including senior leaders, quality staff, and multistakeholder improvement teams. AHRQ developed these research-based tools through a 2-year contract with RAND in collaboration with UHC.
The toolkit includes an "Introduction and Roadmap" to help users identify the resources that are best suited to their specific needs at any given point in the improvement process. It is organized into seven sections:
- Determining Readiness To Change
- Applying QIs to the Hospital Data
- Identifying Priorities for Quality Improvement
- Implementing Improvements
- Monitoring Progress for Sustainable Improvements
- Analyzing Return on Investment
- Using Other Resources
CMS Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS)
- For information on CMS' Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) visit the CMS website
- Read more on the PQRS Incentive Program page
CARE Registry and AAN: Partnering for Progress
Participation in the CARE Registry? presents an opportunity for you to lead your facility in appropriately identifying and assessing stroke risk in patients undergoing CEA or CAS procedures. The unique, integrated data design of the CARE Registry includes NIH Stroke Scale scores both immediately pre- and post-procedure—as well as at 30 days post-procedure—to ensure that appropriate evidence-based diagnostic and interventional strategies are used to improve outcomes for all carotid revascularization procedures.
Read more about the CARE Registry, or request additional information.
CARE Registry Research Opportunity
The CARE Registry, launched by NCDR in 2006, is a comprehensive, hospital-wide quality improvement program that assesses the use, quality, and outcomes associated with all carotid revascularization procedures. The CARE Registry is now available for research on carotid stent and endarterectomy outcomes. The CARE Registry Research Proposal Application (.doc), and the CAS Data Collection (.pdf) and CEA Data Collection (.pdf) forms are now available.
Read more information about the CARE Registry on the AAN Reporting Initiatives page or the CARE Registry website. Questions about the application process should be directed to Al Woodward, PhD, MBA, at research@acc.org or (800) 257-4737.