Access the Final Report: HHS-Sponsored Measure Registry Needs Assessment Final Report
Overview
As performance measurement and public reporting efforts have grown tremendously in recent years, it is becoming more and more difficult to determine which and how many versions of a measure exist and whether a measure is endorsed, in use, in retirement, and so on. Information on measures is currently collected and maintained in a variety of ways by stakeholders, such as: measure developers; entities involved in endorsement, certification, or accreditation; federal agencies; and a wide range of measure end-users including health plans, hospital and medical systems, and other providers of health services, local and state agencies, and multi-stakeholder alliances.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and others have expressed interest in being able to consistently identify and track measures and their related versions, including eMeasures, along the measure development, endorsement, and use pipeline. HHS has contracted with the National Quality Forum (NQF) to explore key issues and considerations for a single system or approach to gathering, storing, and accessing measure information. In its role as a neutral convener, NQF will gather perspectives and information from any interested stakeholders across the quality measurement enterprise. The information gathered through this process will be publicly available for review and use by any individual or organization.
Approach
To explore the degree of interest in and the potential value of having a consistent approach to tracking measures and their related versions along the measure development, endorsement and use pipeline, the needs assessment activities will include:
- An open call for information about current approaches for gathering, storing and accessing measure information, with a corresponding webinar to explore several current measure information systems.
- Discussions with key stakeholders to identify the degree to which they are interested in and would value a consistent way to track, house and/or access information about measures and their related versions as they progress along the measure development, endorsement, and use pipeline.
- A multi-stakeholder, in-person meeting to more deeply explore the key issues and considerations for developing a consistent approach or system to track measure versions and related information.
- A final report submitted to HHS that documents the insights, trade-offs, and any recommendations that stem from the preceding activities.
Note: NQF served as an objective covener for this HHS-sponsored project. However, given its role in quality measurement, NQF will be using the findings of this report to inform ways it can help address participating organizations' measure information needs.
Funding
This work is supported by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Contact Information
For more information, contact Anisha Dharshi at (202) 783-1300 or RNA@qualityforum.org.
HHS has contracted with the National Quality Forum (NQF) to explore key issues and considerations for a single system or approach to gathering, storing, and accessing measure information. In its role as a neutral convener, NQF will gather perspectives and information from any interested stakeholders across the quality measurement enterprise. The information gathered through this process will be publicly available for review and use by any individual or organization.
NQF conducted discussions with public- and private-sector organizations to assess the degree of interest in and potential value of having a standardized approach to tracking measures and their related information. The stakeholder discussions were tailored to two audiences: (1) stakeholders who develop measures and/or maintain information about those measures; and (2) stakeholders who use or implement measures and seek information about measures.
The Summary of Stakeholder Discussions describes what was shared by stakeholders regarding:
- Current systems and approaches in use for maintaining or accessing measure information;
- Challenges in maintaining or accessing complete and reliable measure information; and
- Potential value in and key considerations for a standardized system for or approach to maintaining and/or accessing measure information.
The information from these discussions will help inform an in-person meeting on September 5, 2012, at which participants will explore needs, related trade-offs, and potential recommendations for a standardized system or approach for gathering, storing, and accessing measure information.
Read the Summary of the Stakeholder Discussions
NQF hosted a workshop on September 5, 2012. Participants representing a wide-range of stakeholders explored measure information needs, requirements, and potential approaches for systemically identifying and tracking measures along the measure development, endorsement, and use pipeline.
A workshop summary (in two parts) and related materials are provided below.
Input collected from this meeting and the project’s other activities will be summarized in a report and provided to HHS by the end of 2012.
NQF hosted a public webinar to share the major findings from this project and encourage stakeholders to submit feedback on the draft report.
This report summarizes the key findings from the HHS-sponsored Measure Registry Needs Assessment project and details next steps suggested by participants to support meeting the measure information needs of organizations that develop, select, and/or use measures.
Final Report (PDF)
