Quality

AAHPM, AMGA, and OptumLabs awarded grant funding from AARP

AAHPM, in collaboration with the American Medical Group Association (AMGA) and OptumLabs, has been awarded grant funding from AARP to develop and test new pain treatment and other outcome measures in a “seriously-ill” population as part of the National Quality Forum (NQF’s) Measure Incubator project. The principal investigators and Academy staff are working with OptumLabs’ … Read moreAAHPM, AMGA, and OptumLabs awarded grant funding from AARP

AAHPM and Partners Receive Grant to Fund National Registries Project

Clinical data registries (CDRs) have the potential to demonstrate value and drive measure development within the specialty of hospice and palliative medicine. They also advance Maintenance of Certification and research endeavors and promote national quality improvement. The increasing requirement for quality reporting within value-based payment programs has elevated the need for organized data systems. Physicians … Read moreAAHPM and Partners Receive Grant to Fund National Registries Project

AAHPM Represented at NQF Palliative and End-of-Life Care Meeting

The National Quality Forum (NQF) held an in-person meeting in Washington, DC, May 10-11, 2016, to re-evaluate 16 palliative & end-of-life care performance measures. Information about the measures being evaluated, the NQF process, and the NQF Standing Committee roster can be found on the NQF website.  AAHPM leaders Christine Ritchie, Paul Tatum, Gregg VandeKieft, and … Read moreAAHPM Represented at NQF Palliative and End-of-Life Care Meeting

Quality Measures─ Where’s the Compassion?

As the field of Hospice and Palliative Medicine grows up and integrates into mainstream medicine, we find ourselves increasingly focused on building the evidence base for our practice and developing quality measures that will drive the best outcomes. That’s a noble endeavor, but as we struggle with the science, we run the risk of losing … Read moreQuality Measures─ Where’s the Compassion?

The Devil Is in the Denominator

To improve quality, whom we measure is as important as what. by Joe Rotella, MD, MBA, FAAHPM The growing awareness in America that our healthcare system is unaffordable and fails to deliver consistent quality has led us to healthcare reform, mandatory quality reporting, pay-for-performance, and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). We need good measures of quality … Read moreThe Devil Is in the Denominator

JPSM Call for QI Papers Closes April 15

The Journal of Pain and Symptom Management is pleased to announce a call for papers that report the results of Quality Improvement initiatives in palliative care. This publication of brief reports is a joint project of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Papers focusing on … Read moreJPSM Call for QI Papers Closes April 15

MedPAC meeting in Washington on Palliative Care

I have always yearned for a Medicare Benefit for palliative care services, so it was with some excitement that I read an e-mail from MedPAC inviting me to a meeting in Washington March 23, to discuss palliative care. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is an independent Congressional agency established by the Balanced Budget Act … Read moreMedPAC meeting in Washington on Palliative Care

Serotonin Antagonist: Should They Be Used in Palliative Medicine? (327)

Nausea and vomiting is a drag! Hope no one is feeling queasy since this talk is all about N/V. Dr. Eric Prommer is very knowledgeable about serotonin and the serotonin antagonist like ondansetron . Interestingly, serotonin, which is constantly being produced, can overcome the antagonist and this is why these medications may lose effectiveness. At … Read moreSerotonin Antagonist: Should They Be Used in Palliative Medicine? (327)

Diving into the Alphabet Soup of PQRI

Four Seasons Hospice has taken the plunge and begun to participate in the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) of Medicare. Since fall 2010, we have successfully been submitting data on three PQRI measures: #47 (Advance Care Plan), #154 (Falls risk assessment), and #155 (Falls plan of care). Our palliative care program extends across the inpatient … Read moreDiving into the Alphabet Soup of PQRI

Innovations in quality improvement: help spread the word!

JPSM has announced a new call for brief reports explaining the results of quality improvement initiatives in palliative care. JPSM associate editor David Casarett and members of the AAHPM Quality Task Force were puzzled by the dearth of good information about what quality improvement innovations programs are finding successful. They realized that there aren’t many … Read moreInnovations in quality improvement: help spread the word!