AAHPM Introduces New Palliative Care Quality Measures

The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) announced the finalization of two patient-reported outcomes measures (PROM) to improve the quality of care delivered to patients with serious illness. The Palliative Care Measures project was funded in part by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and in partnership with the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care (NCHPC) and the RAND corporation.  Earlier in August, the National Quality Forum (NQF) has endorsed the measures pending a 30-day appeals process.

The two approved patient-reported outcomes measures look at:

• How much patients felt heard and understood
  • Q1: “I felt heard and understood by this provider and team.”
  • Q2: “I felt this provider and team put my best interests first when making recommendations about my care.”
  • Q3: “I felt this provider and team saw me as a person, not just someone with a medical problem.”
  • Q4: “I felt this provider and team understood what is important to me in my life.”
• If patients got the help they wanted for their pain

According to the implementation guide just released by AAHPM, the measures were designed and tested in outpatient palliative care settings who serve patients 18 and older but could be used in other patient populations or care settings for QI efforts.  If you’ve been searching for more patient centered measures, the implementation guide will provide you with the information needed to:

• generate ideas for how to overcome lack of internal resources (eg, time, budget) and make the case to senior leadership.
• navigate infrastructure and processes—specifically, how to begin a new PRO-PM program and how to successfully adjust an existing one.
• set expectations regarding the types of capabilities that will be required (eg, staff, processes).
• ensure consistent implementation with step-by-step instructions, simplified checklists, and timelines .
• apply the measures for QI efforts.
• analyze data from the measures to help patients, health systems, and insurers see the value of palliative care.