Development of Quality Measures for Post-Stroke Rehabilitation
Overview
Why is this study needed?
Referring clinicians, payers, and potential patients and their families are not able to compare the quality of care provided to stroke patients across post-acute rehabilitation programs. Few rehabilitation hospitals report quality information on their web sites, and the type of quality information they do report varies from hospital to hospital.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and private-sector payers’ use quality measures for public reporting activities, but activities are limited to acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies and physicians. CMS has announced its intention of using quality measures in inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act calls for the identification of IRF quality measures by October 1, 2012.
How will this study help patients and rehabilitation stakeholders?
The goal of this project is to develop quality measures for post-stroke rehabilitation programs that can be used to foster the delivery of high-quality rehabilitation care. Access to high-quality rehabilitation care helps assure quality of life and independent living for individuals with a disability. Use of quality measures for public reporting, quality improvement activities and pay-for-performance incentives have been shown to improve the delivery of quality of health care services.
What are the project objectives?
This research project will identify quality measures appropriate for rehabilitation patients covering from a stroke that meet the criteria established by the leading organization that endorses measures, the National Quality Forum.
The study aims are to:
- Identify candidate quality measures from entities that approve or use quality measures;
- Evaluate the feasibility and utility of candidate quality measures using National Quality Forum Criteria;
- Disseminate quality measures to stakeholders including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and private payers, and consumer organizations.
What are the expected outcomes of this project?
The outcome of this project will be recommendations for quality measures that can be used in post-stroke rehabilitation care.
What agency funded the project?
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
NIDRR Grant Number: H133G090116
What is the duration of the project?
October 1, 2010 – September 30, 2013
Primary Project Staff
Anne Deutsch, Ph.D., RN
Allen Heinemann, Ph.D.
RIC Project Manager:
Holly DeMark Neumann
312-238-2826
hdemark@ric.org
Contact Person
For researchers and students
Anne Deutsch, Ph.D., RN 312-238-2809
Holly DeMark Neumann 312-238-2826
For members of the media
312-238-6044
