NQF Announces Quality Measurement Priority Topics

Under contract with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the National Quality Forum (NQF) will recommend priorities for performance measurement within five topic areas specified by HHS:

• Adult Immunization— identifying critical areas for performance measurement to optimize vaccination rates and outcomes across adult populations 
• Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias—targeting a high-impact condition with complex medical and social implications that impact patients, their family members, and their caregivers 
• Care Coordination—focusing on team-based care and coordination between providers of primary care and community-based services in the context of the “health neighborhood” 
• Health Workforce—emphasizing the role of the workforce in prevention and care coordination, linkages between healthcare and community-based services, and workforce deployment 
• Person-Centered Care and Outcomes—considering measures that are most important to patients—particularly patient-reported outcomes—and how to advance them through health information technology 

Topic-specific committees will review the evidence base and existing measures to identify opportunities for using performance measurement to improve health and healthcare, and to reduce disparities, costs, and measurement burden. Nominations for the five committees that will make the recommendations are now being accepted; NQF encourages members to apply or to nominate colleagues. Members can also attend the committee meetings in-person or virtually, and can comment on draft recommendations.