NQF Endorses Measures for Child Health, Patient Safety 

The National Quality Forum (NQF) Board of Directors has recently endorsed three measures focused on child health, as well as one measure focused on improving patient safety. The measures will be available for a 30-day public appeals process closing October 18.

Endorsed Measures

Child Health
1349: Child overweight or obesity status based on parental report of body mass index (BMI) [NSCH] (MCHB/CAHMI)
1346: Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke inside home [NSCH] (MCHB/CAHMI)
1333: Children who receive family-centered care [NSCH] (MCHB/CAHMI)

Patient Safety
0740: Participation in a Systematic National Dose Index Registry (time-limited endorsement)

NQF is a voluntary consensus standards-setting organization. Any party may request reconsideration of the endorsed measures by notifying NQF in writing no later than October 18. To submit an appeal, go to the NQF Measure Database. For an appeal to be considered, the notification must include information clearly demonstrating that the appellant has interests that are directly and materially affected by the NQF-endorsed recommendations and that the NQF decision has had (or will have) an adverse effect on those interests.

The National Quality Forum operates under a three-part mission to improve the quality of American healthcare by: 

• Building consensus on national priorities and goals for performance improvement and working in partnership to achieve them;  
• Endorsing national consensus standards for measuring and publicly reporting on performance; and  
• Promoting the attainment of national goals through education and outreach programs.