Web site launched as primer on quality measurement, improvement

The not-for-profit Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) has introduced Quality 101, a Web site designed to be a primer on the basics and metrics of quality measurement and improvement.

"Quality measurement and improvement activities have, until recently, been running on separate tracks and parallel tracks with the adoption of healthcare information technology (IT). With the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the meaningful use requirements for incentive payment from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, we have the de facto merging of these two activities," said Louis Diamond, chairman of the HIMSS Patient Safety and Quality Outcomes Committee. Diamond also is vice president and medical director, healthcare and scientific, Thomson Reuters. "The Quality 101 Web site will be attempting to bridge these two parallel worlds by providing basic information and updates focused on quality measurement and improvement."

Visitors to the Quality 101 Web site will find information about industry players, quality and meaningful use, public reporting, the quality/cost relationship, clinical decision support, and resources.

"Achieving quality is the ultimate purpose of meaningful use. A core understanding of the various factors that influence quality is vital to its success," said David Collins, HIMSS director, healthcare information systems. "The Quality 101 Web site provides a structured collection of resources for healthcare providers and health IT professionals so that the electronic health record can be leveraged to capture data to monitor and trend outcomes and improve quality, safety, and efficiencies."