NQMC Update Service: September 28, 2015

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) sent this bulletin at 09/28/2015 12:00 PM EDT

National Quality Measures Clearinghouse (NQMC)

September 28, 2015

New This Week

Measure Summaries

American Academy of Ophthalmology

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): percentage of patients aged 50 years and older with a diagnosis of AMD or their caregiver(s) who were counseled within 12 months on the benefits and/or risks of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) formation for preventing progression of AMD. This updates a previously published measure summary.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): percentage of patients aged 50 years and older with a diagnosis of AMD who had a dilated macular examination performed which included documentation of the presence or absence of macular thickening or hemorrhage, AND the level of macular degeneration severity during one or more office visits within 12 months. This updates a previously published measure summary.

Cataracts: percentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a procedure of cataract surgery with IOL placement who received a comprehensive preoperative assessment of 1) dilated fundus exam; 2) axial length, corneal keratometry measurement, and method of IOL power calculation; and 3) functional or medical indication(s) for surgery prior to the cataract surgery with IOL placement within 12 months prior to cataract surgery. This updates a previously published measure summary.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG): percentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of POAG or their caregiver who were counseled within 12 months about 1) the potential impact of glaucoma on their visual functioning and quality of life, and 2) the importance of treatment adherence. This updates a previously published measure summary.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG): percentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of POAG whose glaucoma treatment has not failed (the most recent IOP was reduced by at least 15% from the pre-intervention level) OR if the most recent IOP was not reduced by at least 15% from the pre-intervention level, a plan of care was documented within 12 months. This updates a previously published measure summary.

American Society of Hematology

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): percentage of higher-risk MDS patients receiving azacitidine or decitabine.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): percentage of MDS patients presenting with anemia who had a serum erythropoietin level less than or equal to 500 mU/ml prior to receiving erythropoietin/darbepoetin therapy.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): percentage of MDS patients presenting with anemia who had evidence of adequate iron stores within 60 days prior to receiving erythropoietin/darbepoetin therapy.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): percentage of MDS patients who are candidates for allogeneic stem cell transplant receiving irradiated transfusion products.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): percentage of MDS patients who had an established pathologic classification/risk prognostication system to help plan therapeutic options.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): percentage of MDS patients whose baseline diagnostic evaluation includes cytogenetic testing on bone marrow by standard karyotyping methods.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): percentage of patients with a diagnosis of MDS whose eligibility for a clinical trial was checked at least once a year.

Pharmacy Quality Alliance

Statin use in persons with diabetes: percentage of patients ages 40 to 75 years who were dispensed a medication for diabetes that receive a statin medication.

Withdrawn Summaries

The summaries listed below have been withdrawn from the NQMC Web site because they are no longer in current use and therefore, do not meet the NQMC Inclusion Criteria. Please see the Measure Archive for a complete list of measures that have been withdrawn from the NQMC Web site.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Hospital outpatient surgery: percentage of surgical patients who received prophylactic antibiotics consistent with current guidelines (specific to each type of surgical procedure).

Hospital outpatient surgery: percentage of surgical patients with prophylactic antibiotics initiated within one hour prior to surgical incision.

Announcements

Conference News

Registration is now open for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) 2015 Research Conference. It will be held October 4–6 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in Crystal City, VA. The conference is titled "Producing Evidence and Engaging Partners to Improve Health Care." The latest version of the agenda is now available, including an updated list of speakers. Explore sessions and begin to plan your participation in the meeting. Visit the conference home page for more information.

Coming Soon

Updated Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Failure to Rescue Measures

Health Awareness Topics - September 2015

National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month (see related measures)
National Sickle Cell Month (see related measures)
National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month (see related measures)
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month (see related measures)
Sepsis Awareness Month (see related measures)

How to Participate

Submit measures: Visit our Submit Measures page for information on how to submit your organization's measures.
Suggest a measure for possible inclusion: Submit your suggestions for evidence-based quality measures and measure sets that you would like to see included in NQMC.

NQMC Sister Resource

Look for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines in AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC).

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