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JCAHO, NQF are developing quality measures for deep vein thrombosis
Quality Improvement Monitor, September 30, 2004
The National Quality Forum (NQF) and the JCAHO are working to develop standardized performance measures for the prevention and care of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the organizations jointly announced September 27.
The NQF will oversee the project and have the lead responsibility for developing relevant organizational policies and procedures, care practices, and appropriate improvement interventions.
The organization will subcontract to the JCAHO to create a DVT performance measure set, with input and guidance from an expert panel. The resulting measures will then be subjected to the NQF's Consensus Development Process, which will likely lead to formal endorsement of the measures as national consensus standards.
DVT occurs when blood clots form deep inside the leg. The clots can be deadly if they break off and block circulation in the lungs.
Nearly all hospitalized patients are at risk of DVT, but it is a particular risk following major surgery, serious trauma, certain medical conditions, or prolonged inactivity from any illness. DVT is an often-overlooked clinical condition that affects approximately two million Americans each year and kills 200,000.
"DVT is a very important but very under-recognized clinical condition, and the lack of standardized performance measures to gauge the quality of care for DVT and its complications is a serious shortcoming," says NQF President and CEO Kenneth W. Kizer, MD, MPH. "We anticipate that the combined efforts of the NQF and the Joint Commission will lead to important improvements in the quality of care for patients."
The JCAHO plans to appoint the expert panel over the next two months and begin pilot testing of the tentative measure set in late 2005. Once it completes its developmental work, NQF will enter the proposed measure set into its Consensus Development Process, which gives endorsed measures the special legal standing of national voluntary consensus standards.
In addition, CMS will expect hospitals to improve the post-operative care they provide to surgical patients in coming years. Its 8th Scope of Work would require each state's Quality Improvement Organization to help hospitals reduce surgical complications, including surgical site infections and DVT.
-- Wendy Johnson
wjohnson@hcpro.com
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