At the 9th annual Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference in Chicago, David Shapiro, MD, CASC, partner at Ambulatory Surgery Company, shared tips on how to effectively measure and report key quality measures, a topic that has received increasing attention in the last several years.
Dr. Shapiro began his discussion by explaining the importance of benchmarking. Ambulatory surgery centers can benchmark a wide variety of performance measures internally (against one’s own facility) or externally (against other facilities). In order to benchmark, however, ASCs need to diligently measure and collect data.
Four of the most important healthcare quality measures are outcome measures, including infection rates; process measures, such as antibiotic timing; cost measures; and patient experience measures. Tracking and benchmarking quality requires commitment and diligence, but this practice can motivate ASC medical staff and employees, improve center marketing, serve as an effective management tool and help centers meet state and federal standards, Dr. Shapiro said.
Various accrediting bodies, as well as the federal government, have required ASCs to undertake quality improvement and measurement as part of day-to-day operations. These include AAAHC and CMS. Failing to track and measure quality improvement could result in poor payor contracts or exclusion from Medicare and Medicaid.
“Something every ASC should consider doing, if they’re not doing so already, is doing data collection, benchmarking and sharing those findings even to the highest level of [an ASC’s] governing body,” Dr. Shapiro said.
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Dr. Shapiro began his discussion by explaining the importance of benchmarking. Ambulatory surgery centers can benchmark a wide variety of performance measures internally (against one’s own facility) or externally (against other facilities). In order to benchmark, however, ASCs need to diligently measure and collect data.
Four of the most important healthcare quality measures are outcome measures, including infection rates; process measures, such as antibiotic timing; cost measures; and patient experience measures. Tracking and benchmarking quality requires commitment and diligence, but this practice can motivate ASC medical staff and employees, improve center marketing, serve as an effective management tool and help centers meet state and federal standards, Dr. Shapiro said.
Various accrediting bodies, as well as the federal government, have required ASCs to undertake quality improvement and measurement as part of day-to-day operations. These include AAAHC and CMS. Failing to track and measure quality improvement could result in poor payor contracts or exclusion from Medicare and Medicaid.
“Something every ASC should consider doing, if they’re not doing so already, is doing data collection, benchmarking and sharing those findings even to the highest level of [an ASC’s] governing body,” Dr. Shapiro said.
Related Articles on Quality:
NQF Releases Updated List of 29 Serious Reportable Events
Dr. Peter Pronovost Named Director of Johns Hopkins New Patient Safety Center
Delaware Lawmakers Argue Over Authorship of Medical Accreditation Bill
