Testing the feasibility of using electronic health records for a new patient-centered strategy to assess cardiovascular risk

Under this project, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) will pioneer a patient-centered quality-measurement strategy focused on cardiovascular outcomes called the Global Outcomes (GO) Score. This approach offers a unique opportunity to test a radical new measurement concept, leveraging data from electronic health records (EHRs). This approach not only challenges current thinking about quality measures (i.e., measuring health outcomes and not just process and treatment goals), but also offers the possibility of rapid results to providers who are sensitive to the individual needs of their patients. In addition, this approach offers an opportunity to better understand how different approaches to quality improvement can influence behavior change by moving away from management of existing conditions and toward prevention of future adverse events. The GO Score could become the first outcomes-based electronic measure (e-measure) used by Medicare and commercial payers. Use of this measure could have a profound impact on quality and cost nationwide, as reduction in risk of costly adverse outcomes would become the key driver of performance measurement and financial incentives. NCQA develops measures under a rigorous process that includes evaluation of a measure's effectiveness and performance in specific environments to ensure its feasibility, validity, and usability. NCQA will evaluate the feasibility of extracting the data from EHRs necessary to calculate the measure within a subpopulation at five health plans. Successful completion of this feasibility test will provide NCQA with an endorsement-ready specification of a person-centered e-measure for assessing and improving the health outcomes for patients at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Grant Details

Amount Awarded $244,785.00

Awarded on: 12/13/2012

Time frame: 12/15/2012 - 6/14/2014

Grant Number: 70393