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Medicare News
Medicare Patients Getting Better Care, Says Survey
Quality Improvement Organizations getting the
credit
June 20, 2006 - Three out of four stakeholders in
health care improvement agree that “providers are providing better care
because of QIOs,” according to a new independent survey of stakeholders
working closely with Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) to improve
care for Medicare beneficiaries.
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“These findings are a strong endorsement of the
value QIOs provide to those at the front lines of the effort to improve
health care quality,” said David Schulke, Executive Vice President of
the American Health Quality Association (AHQA). “No health care
professional has time anymore to voluntarily work with someone who
doesn’t bring value. These data from the front lines confirm that QIOs
are making quality better.”
The survey, “Stakeholder Survey: Baseline Study
Report,” was conducted in January and February 2006 by Westat, an
independent company under contract to the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS). A second survey will be conducted in 2007 as
part of CMS’ overall performance evaluation of QIOs in their current
contract, which runs from 2005-2008.
Westat interviewed more than 1,300 small, medium,
and large stakeholders nationwide, asking questions covering four major
topic areas: knowledge of QIO activities, satisfaction with QIO
information and assistance, perceived value of the QIO, and interactions
with the QIO. Among other results, the survey shows that:
● 91% found the information and assistance
provided by their QIO valuable.
● 90% were satisfied with all interactions and partnerships with their
QIO. --
● Of those respondents who have an “on-going partnership” with their
QIO – nearly all (98%) reported being satisfied with QIO efforts,
including 84% who were very satisfied.
Survey respondents represented a broad
cross-section of key stakeholders, including state-based organizations
and state-level representatives of national organizations including:
American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Physicians,
American College of Surgeons, American Hospital Association, American
Health Care Association, American Medical Association, National
Association of Home Care, Medical Group Management Association, End
Stage Renal Disease Network, and the American Association of Homes and
Services for the Aging. State-based stakeholders included state survey
agencies, state offices of rural health, health plans, long-term care
ombudsman programs, and organizations representing underserved
populations.
Comments from national stakeholders:
American College of Physicians
“Practice transformation is a top priority for the American College
of Physicians, and QIOs are a key trusted resource for helping
physicians through this important process,” said Michael S. Barr, MD,
MBA, FACP, vice president, Practice Advocacy and Improvement of the
American College of Physicians. “We’re pleased to see that other
stakeholders are highly satisfied with the QIOs as well.”
National Rural Health Association
“It continues to be abundantly clear that the Quality Improvement
Organizations are a principal source of essential assistance in terms of
knowledge, skills and cultural transformation to improve the quality of
rural health care,” said Forrest Calico, MD, MPH, senior advisor for
quality, National Rural Health Association, which represents more than
10,000 members on rural health issues.
National Association of Home Care & Hospice
“Thousands of home health agencies have boosted their performance
with help from QIOs, and we find the pace of improvement is faster with
QIO support. As evidenced by the survey results, home health agencies
across the country voice high praise for training programs and the
ongoing guidance provided by their QIOs. Medicare’s investment in the
QIO program is a wise one, and we’re excited to be partnering with them
on the important initiative to prevent avoidable hospitalizations. We’re
hopeful that the Congress and the Bush administration will continue
offering home health agencies support through the QIOs and will take
steps to allow hospice organizations to take advantage of QIO assistance
as well.” Val J. Halamandaris, president of the National Association of
Home Care & Hospice
American Health Care Association
“The QIOs are valuable partners in the long term care profession’s
ongoing efforts to improve the quality of care and quality of life for
the frail, elderly and disabled in our nation’s nursing homes. These
survey results reaffirm what our members know to be true, that the
collaborative support and critical assistance provided by QIOs are
essential for us to meet our commitment of continuous quality
improvement,” stated Bruce Yarwood, president and CEO of the American
Health Care Association, a non-profit federation of affiliated state
health organizations representing more than 10,000 non-profit and
for-profit assisted living, nursing facility, developmentally-disabled,
and subacute care providers that care for more than 1.5 million elderly
and disabled individuals nationally. “We hope that these survey results
will encourage more facilities to utilize the benefits provided with QIO
assistance.”
Center for Health Transformation
“Quality Improvement Organizations are providing valuable tools and
education on important issues like the adoption of health information
technology. They are making a difference for thousands of physicians
and—more importantly—their patients,” said former Speaker of the House
Newt Gingrich, founder of the Center for Health Transformation
Medical Group Management Association
“The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) is committed to
helping medical groups enhance patient safety, quality and satisfaction.
Accordingly, we are very grateful for the technical assistance and
support that Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) provide to medical
practices around the country. We’ve found the QIOs to be outstanding
resources and valued partners in a variety of joint efforts to help
improve patient care,” said William F. Jessee, MD, FACMPE, president and
CEO, Medical Group Management Association.
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)
“The QIOs are an excellent quality improvement resource for Medicare
providers and AACP is pleased that so many providers recognize the value
of QIO expert assistance,” said Will Lang, vice president, Policy and
Advocacy, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. “The proactive
collaboration between the QIOs and faculty at our nation’s colleges and
schools of pharmacy creates the opportunity for providers and
beneficiaries to benefit from medication management improvements at the
very start of the prescription drug benefit.”
American Association of Homes and Services for
the Aging
“Our members are dedicated to continuous quality improvement and have
been pleased to work with the QIOs in tandem with our Quality First
initiative,” said Larry Minnix, president & CEO of the American
Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, which represents
not-for-profit aging services providers serving more than two million
people daily. “These survey results show that many organizations find,
as we have, that QIOs can be a valuable collaborative partner.”
Statement from source:
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, long-term care facilities,
home health agencies, health plans, and employers, and pharmacists to
encourage the spread of best clinical practices and improve systems of
care delivery. Visit
http://www.ahqa.org.
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