When you make a plan, depending on practice resources and experience with quality measures, you may first need to learn how to use tools such as questionnaires and also learn about redesign skills as well as the rapid change cycle. You may elect one of a variety of approaches: to start slowly by implementing just one quality measure, to “dive in” using a registry-based approach, or to “go for the gusto” with full-on electronic implementation. Dr. Newman emphasized that it’s recommended to start slowly and do trial runs to introduce quality measures one at a time. During this phase and throughout the change process, it’s important to praise staff for their efforts and give feedback.
Dr. Newman encouraged his audience to pick a path for measurement that makes sense for their individual practices and institutions, “and let ACR help you.” For instance, clinicians could consider using ACR’s Rheumatology Clinical Registry. (See “Rheumatology Clinical Registry Debuts This Month,” p. 1, for more information.)
Quality indicators are being used increasingly for quality-improvement efforts, for benchmarking, and, for pay-for-performance initiatives by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other payers. To avoid the perfect storm, clinicians can take a proactive approach and implement quality measures into their practices. Wrapping up his talk, Dr. Newman left his audience with several inspirational quotes, including, “Change is difficult, but stagnation is fatal.”
Gretchen Henkel covered the 2008 ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting for The Rheumatologist.
