National Quality Forum

National Quality Forum
Name	National Quality Forum
Formation	1999
Location	Washington, D.C.
Key people	Christine Cassel, Donald Berwick

National Quality Forum. The National Quality Forum is a non-profit organization that aims to improve the quality of healthcare in the United States through the development of evidence-based standards and measures, in collaboration with organizations such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, American Medical Association, and American Hospital Association. The organization works closely with healthcare professionals, Patient Safety Movement Foundation, and The Joint Commission to identify and address gaps in healthcare quality. By leveraging the expertise of its members, including Institute of Medicine and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the National Quality Forum strives to promote high-quality, patient-centered care.

Introduction

The National Quality Forum was established in 1999, with the goal of promoting healthcare quality improvement through the development of standardized measures and reporting, in partnership with organizations such as American College of Physicians, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American Nurses Association. The organization's work is guided by a commitment to patient-centered care, evidence-based medicine, and quality improvement, as outlined by the Institute of Medicine's report To Err is Human. The National Quality Forum's efforts are also informed by the work of Donabedian, Avedis Donabedian, and W. Edwards Deming, who are renowned for their contributions to quality management and healthcare quality improvement. Additionally, the organization collaborates with Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, American Health Information Management Association, and National Committee for Quality Assurance to advance healthcare quality.

History

The National Quality Forum was founded in response to growing concerns about the quality of healthcare in the United States, as highlighted by reports such as To Err is Human and Crossing the Quality Chasm, published by the Institute of Medicine. The organization's early work focused on developing standards for patient safety, healthcare-associated infections, and medication management, in collaboration with organizations such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, and National Institutes of Health. Over time, the National Quality Forum has expanded its scope to address a broader range of healthcare quality issues, including health disparities, care coordination, and population health, in partnership with organizations such as Health Resources and Services Administration, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and National Association of Community Health Centers. The organization has also worked closely with American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Surgeons, and American Society of Anesthesiologists to develop standards and measures for specific clinical areas.

Mission and Goals

The National Quality Forum's mission is to improve the quality of healthcare in the United States by developing and implementing evidence-based standards and measures, in collaboration with organizations such as National Academy of Medicine, American Medical Association, and American Hospital Association. The organization's goals include promoting patient-centered care, reducing health disparities, and improving healthcare outcomes, as outlined by the Triple Aim framework developed by Institute for Healthcare Improvement. The National Quality Forum also aims to foster a culture of quality improvement and patient safety within healthcare organizations, in partnership with organizations such as The Joint Commission, Dignity Health, and Kaiser Permanente. To achieve these goals, the organization works closely with healthcare professionals, Patient Safety Movement Foundation, and National Patient Safety Foundation to identify and address gaps in healthcare quality.

Measures and Standards

The National Quality Forum develops and endorses standards and measures for healthcare quality, in collaboration with organizations such as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Committee for Quality Assurance, and The Joint Commission. These measures are designed to assess healthcare performance in areas such as patient safety, effectiveness of care, and patient experience, as outlined by the CAHPS survey developed by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The organization's measures are also informed by the work of Donabedian, Avedis Donabedian, and W. Edwards Deming, who are renowned for their contributions to quality management and healthcare quality improvement. The National Quality Forum's standards and measures are widely used by healthcare organizations, including Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and University of California, San Francisco, to evaluate and improve their performance.

Initiatives and Programs

The National Quality Forum has launched several initiatives and programs to promote healthcare quality improvement, in partnership with organizations such as Patient Safety Movement Foundation, National Patient Safety Foundation, and Institute for Healthcare Improvement. These initiatives include the National Quality Partners program, which brings together healthcare stakeholders to address specific quality issues, such as sepsis and antimicrobial stewardship, in collaboration with organizations such as Society of Critical Care Medicine and Infectious Diseases Society of America. The organization has also developed the National Quality Forum's Measure Applications Partnership, which provides guidance on the use of quality measures in healthcare, in partnership with organizations such as National Committee for Quality Assurance and The Joint Commission. Additionally, the National Quality Forum collaborates with American College of Physicians, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American Nurses Association to develop educational resources and tools for healthcare professionals.

Impact and Evaluation

The National Quality Forum's work has had a significant impact on healthcare quality in the United States, as demonstrated by improvements in patient safety, healthcare-associated infections, and medication management, as reported by organizations such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The organization's measures and standards have been widely adopted by healthcare organizations, including Kaiser Permanente, Geisinger Health System, and Intermountain Healthcare, and have informed healthcare policy and regulation at the federal and state levels, in collaboration with organizations such as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and National Governors Association. The National Quality Forum's initiatives and programs have also contributed to a culture of quality improvement and patient safety within healthcare organizations, in partnership with organizations such as The Joint Commission and Dignity Health. To evaluate its impact, the National Quality Forum conducts regular assessments of its measures and standards, in collaboration with organizations such as National Committee for Quality Assurance and American Medical Association.

Category:Healthcare quality