IPRO's Atlantic Quality Innovation Network Featured in 2017 QIO Program Progress Report

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Oct. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- IPRO's AtIantic Quality Innovation Network (AQIN), the Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) for New York, South Carolina and the District of Columbia, is proud to announce that it is featured in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS') newly released 2017 QIO Program Progress Report. AQIN is one of 14 QIN-QIOs that contributed to the Program's success in improving the quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries throughout the United States.

The annual QIO Program Progress Report highlights how QIN-QIOs nationwide are helping to reduce clinician burden and supporting person-centered quality improvement initiatives that combat disparities and promote population health. It includes findings from the Program's past year and features recent success stories from around the country, data-driven results from QIN-QIOs and Beneficiary and Family-Centered Care (BFCC)-QIOs, and future priorities for the QIO Program.

"Both BFCC-QIOs and QIN-QIOs shined in their work in 2017, with QIN-QIOs seeing especially impactful results in the areas of medication safety, immunizations, care coordination, diabetes and nursing home care," said Dennis Wagner, director of the Quality Improvement and Innovation Group (QIIG) within CMS's Center for Clinical Standards and Quality. "QIN-QIOs' care transitions work contributed to over 50,900 readmissions avoided and 23 million beneficiaries potentially affected. QIN-QIOs' diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) resulted in more than 5,300 diabetes educators trained and over 47,800 beneficiaries completing DSMES in 17 different languages. Together, QIN-QIOs and BFCC-QIOs helped improve the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of care provided to our nation's Medicare beneficiaries."

AQIN-New York's (IPRO's) current work with 468 nursing homes across New York State has contributed to a 38% rate of relative improvement in reducing the use of antipsychotic medications—more than double the rate of improvement (15%) included as a contract goal for nursing homes. AQIN-South Carolina (The Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence) has supported a reduction in potential adverse events involving high-risk medications including opioids, anticoagulants and diabetic agents—contributing to a nearly 8% statewide relative improvement rate for calendar year 2017.   

"We're gratified to be part of a national initiative that is achieving real and lasting improvements in the quality of healthcare delivered to Medicare beneficiaries—among our nation's most vulnerable populations," said Clare Bradley, MD, MPH, IPRO's Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer.

Another specific example of AQIN's successful quality improvement activities can be viewed in the report's "Snapshots of Success" section. That example focuses on important work being done by AQIN-District of Columbia (Qlarant), in partnership with the DC Million Hearts Campaign to help physicians improve cardiac screening programs.     

The QIO Program Progress Report is available online at http://progressreport.qioprogram.org/. A printable PDF version is also available for download from that site.

A national organization based in Lake Success NY, IPRO leads the Atlantic Quality Innovation Network (AQIN), one of 14 Medicare-funded Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organizations (QIN-QIOs) operating across the U.S.

Founded in 1984, IPRO is highly regarded for the independence of its approach, the depth of its knowledge and experience and integrity of its programs. IPRO holds contracts with federal, state and local government agencies, as well as private-sector clients, in more than 33 states and the District of Columbia. IPRO has offices in Albany, NY, as well as Connecticut, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and California.

SOURCE IPRO

Related Links

http://www.ipro.org