Despite tremendous changes and many challenges in quality measurement with the expansion of requirements for electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) reporting, an increased number of Joint Commission-accredited hospitals are adopting and reporting eCQMs to drive quality improvement, The Joint Commission reports in America’s Hospitals: Improving Quality and Safety – The Joint Commission’s Annual Report 2017.
In 2016, 470 Joint Commission-accredited hospitals voluntarily submitted eCQM data – up 436 hospitals from the previous year. The Joint Commission also reports that surveys of its accredited hospitals indicate a higher awareness of eCQM reporting requirements, and that most hospitals plan to report 2017 eCQM data to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) next year.
Through its work with accredited hospitals preparing for eCQM data reporting that will be required in 2018, physician engagement is a particularly critical component identified by The Joint Commission and its accredited hospitals taking part in eCQM adoption activities to date. As one hospital identified, 90 percent of its eCQM data elements were documented by physicians.
Also in the report, The Joint Commission called attention to hospitals determined to be 2017 Pioneers in Quality Data Contributors. These hospitals voluntarily led the way in submitting eCQM data ahead of required reporting in 2018. The report also recognized:
Eleven hospitals and health systems as 2017 Pioneers in Quality Solution Contributors for sharing proven eCQMs practices with other accredited hospitals through Joint Commission-sponsored learning programs.
Nine hospitals and health systems as 2017 Pioneers in Quality Expert Contributors for other contributions to peer learning that help advance the evolution and utilization of eCQMs across Joint Commission accredited organizations and the field at large.
The Pioneers in Quality program was created to assist and recognize hospitals that report eCQM data, as well as share best practices for all hospitals in gathering, analyzing and leveraging eCQM data for quality improvement.
