NQF endorses end-of-life and palliative care quality measures
The National Quality Forum is endorsing 14 quality measures on palliative and end-of-life care focused on addressing care management concerns.
“As the number of palliative and end-of-life care programs continue to grow across the country, it’s critical that providers have the right measurement tools to help ensure patients receive safe, high-quality and compassionate care,” said June Lunney, PhD, RN, in a statement announcing the measures. Lunney serves as the director of research at the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association and as co-chair of the Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care Endorsement Maintenance Steering Committee at NQF.
[See also: California project improves end-of-life care.]
The endorsed measures include 12 new measures and two previously endorsed measures. The measures cover pain management, psychosocial needs, care transitions and experiences of care. Because NQF is a voluntary consensus standards-setting organization, anyone can request a re-evaluation of the endorsed measures by submitting an appeal by March 14.
“As the number of older adults in this country continues to grow, palliative and end-of-life care services are needed more than ever,” said Janet Corrigan, PhD, president and CEO of NQF, in a statement. “This set of measures will help promote the type of high-quality care older people and acutely ill patients deserve.”
Follow HFN associate editor Stephanie Bouchard on Twitter @SBouchardHFN.
