The NQF Measure Incubator is an innovative effort that facilitates efficient
measure development and testing through collaboration and partnership. By
connecting groups interested in particular measure concepts with measure
development experts, financial and technical resources, and data, the Measure
Incubator seeks to address important aspects of healthcare for which quality
measures are underdeveloped or non-existent. In leading the Measure Incubator,
NQF’s role is to facilitate the work of others. NQF itself will not develop
measures.
The Design Session, funded by an educational grant from
AstraZeneca, brought together representatives from the federal government,
consumer and patient organizations, measure developers, specialty societies,
data holders, health plans, industry and others. Together, these stakeholders
examined the NQF Measure Incubator process in depth from the perspectives of
coordination and collaboration among participating entities, the needs and flow
of data through the various steps in measure incubation, and measure testing
and use.
“The very candid dialogue among all parties at the Design
Session revealed clear, high-energy support for the Measure Incubator and NQF’s
role leading it,” said Nicole Silverman, NQF chief operating officer. “The guidance we received on how to fine-tune how we incubate needed measures will prove invaluable as this innovative effort
continues to evolve.”
In particular, participants welcomed NQF’s role as a
matchmaker in bringing together all the parties involved in measure development
and encouraged NQF to consider building an electronic platform to facilitate
this matchmaking. Participants also enthusiastically supported a
learning network that would allow stakeholders to share what works and what
doesn’t work about measure development so that the field can progress
collectively. NQF is considering different options to build this learning
community and what might be accomplished in the short term.
