Quality measures (also known as performance measures) take guideline recommendations to the next level with implementation in clinical practice.
What is a quality/performance measure?
- A quality/performance measure:
- Is evidence-based
- Serves as a means of implementing guidelines in practice
- Is actionable, feasible and addresses a gap in care with the goal of improving patient outcomes
- Each measure statement includes the following:
- Numerator statement
- What does the clinician need to do to complete this measure successfully? (e.g., document in the medical record that he/she discussed falls with the patient)
- Denominator statement
- Who is in the eligible patient population? Consider diagnossi, time frame for measurement (yearly, every visit, other time period), age, and gender limitations
- Numerator statement
- Exclusions (reason[s} to not include a specific patient int he denominator)
- Medical reasons (e.g., patient has a medication contraindication)
- Patient reasons 9e.g., patient declines)
- System reasons (e.g., patient has no insurance)
With the implementation of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, the AAN is fervently working to advance the number of quality measures developed for neurologic conditions. It is in the best interest of AAN members to clearly establish quality measures within the specialty. Payers and government agencies are demanding more and more quality measures, so it is up to the AAN to demonstrate leadership through the development of neurology-specific measures.
The AAN's Quality and Measurement and Reporting Subcommittee has developed a well-founded methodology that is evidence based and aligns closely with the process used by the AMA-convened Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement (PCPI). This transparent, rigorous process is used to develop measures for use in quality initiatives, public reporting, accountability, and license/board recertification.
The AAN has developed:
- 8 epilepsy measures*
- 10 Parkinson's disease measures*
- 6 distal symmetric polyneuropathy measures (to be released in 2012)
- 11 amyotorphic lateral sclerosis measures (to be released in 2012)
* There are 3 epilepsy and 6 Parkinson's disease measures in the 2012 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) measures. Visit the PQRS page for details on the program.
The AAN has worked with the PCPI to develop measures for:
- Stroke
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Dementia
Future measurement development projects include:
- Headache
- Multiple sclerosis
- Muscular dystrophies
- Update to epilepsy measures
- Update to Parkinson's disease measures
For anyone interested in becoming involved with any future measure development work groups, finding information on AAN measurement sets, or getting answers to questions regarding AAN's measures, please notify the AAN by commenting on this post.
This post was written by Rebecca Swain-Eng, MS, Senior Manager, Measurement and Implementation. You can contact her via the comments on this blog or at rswaineng@aan.com
