Anesthesia specific measures

1. NSQIP, NQF, NQS Anesthesia Specific Measures and How these can Improve Anesthesia Care

2. Measuring the quality of healthcare • Programs that aim to measure the quality of healthcare • National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) • Quality program that specifically helps surgeons track surgical complications to aid in identifying preventable complications and/or lowering hospital costs • National Quality Forum (NQF) • Measures and publicly reports on the performance of different aspects of the healthcare system and is used by hospitals, healthcare systems, and government agencies to provide certified performance measures that evaluate “healthcare processes, outcomes, patient perceptions, and organizational structure and/or systems that are associated with the ability to provide high-quality care” • National Quality Strategy (NQS) • Established by the Affordable Care Act to “improve the delivery of health care services, patient health outcomes, and population health” • These organizations provide those working in anesthesia the data and opportunity to improve on patient safety and experience.

3. Quality of Anesthesia Care • Anesthesia has been cited as leading the way in improving patient safety and outcomes (according to AANA) • Those working in anesthesia care are encouraged to participate in reporting anesthesia specific measures. • In an effort to differentiate between high and low quality care, anesthesia professionals can use measurements related to adverse events, mortality, and complications. • These anesthesia specific measures also aim to improve the patient’s experience of anesthesia. By identifying methods that reduce circumstances such as postoperative nausea or vomiting, anesthesia professionals can significantly improve a patient’s experience with anesthesia. • The NQS also hopes to use these reports to identify and measure anesthesia’s role in inter-professional team-based care.

4. Importance of reporting anesthesia specific Measures • Individual anesthesia professionals can improve quality care for patients by participating in ongoing review and evaluation, monitor their own work in terms of patient safety and quality, and voice quality and patient safety concerns as they arise. • As of 2015, PQRS started penalizing eligible professionals that failed to report, emphasizing the importance of quality measurement in improving healthcare. • According to a study done on managing quality in an anesthesia department, identifying and surveying patients and anesthesia providers improves the value of anesthesia services

5. In conclusion • These anesthesia specific measures can provide a quantitative perspective for measuring the development and modification of anesthesia care. • Those working in anesthesia care should familiarize themselves with the measurement process and the importance of quality and performance endorsement through these measures. • When used effectively, NSQIP, NQF, and NQS anesthesia specific measures can effectively lead to improved outcomes for patients requiring anesthesia.

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