NQF’s Annual Conference Drives Conversation Around Quality Measures, Value-Based Care

At the National Quality Forum’s 2016 Annual Conference, which the National Pharmaceutical Council is cosponsoring, health care stakeholders will speak about quality measure development, patient-reported outcomes and patient-generated data, shared-decision making, health literacy and other important topics to consider as we drive toward value-based care.

As the health care system moves toward one emphasizing the value of care over the volume of care, quality measures play a key role in this shift to help improve care and reduce costs. That’s why discussions like those taking place at this week’s National Quality Forum’s (NQF) 2016 Annual Conference are so important.

At this year’s event, which the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC) is cosponsoring, health care stakeholders will speak about quality measure development, patient-reported outcomes and patient-generated data, shared-decision making, health literacy and other important topics to consider as we drive toward value-based care.

NQF’s conference is just one more step in the right direction and continues to help amplify the longstanding efforts of organizations, such as the Pharmacy Quality Alliance, the National Health Council along with our work at NPC, that examine quality measurement.

Over the past few years, NPC has:

  • Served as a convener on this issue by bringing together thought leaders and patient groups for a real conversation about how to better communicate and include patients in the process and improve outcomes at lower costs;
  • Identified gaps in quality measures and offered recommendations on how to fill those gaps; and,
  • Helped create an online, interactive continuing education series, “Healthcare Quality: Measurement and Implications Series,” which addresses basic information about quality measurement, and in the second module, takes a more in-depth look into the role quality measures play in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Quality measures will continue to play an important role as the needs and priorities of a value-based health system evolve. That’s why all stakeholders must continue to have an open dialogue to address gaps and work toward changes in quality measures that can truly improve value-based care models. While just one tool, quality measures have the potential to be an important element in improving patient outcomes and lowering costs across our system.