NQF to Launch New Tools Focused on Using Quality Measures for Improvement 

Washington, DC – The National Quality Forum (NQF) will soon launch two tools during a July 26th webinar designed to help users navigate the many healthcare quality measurement and reporting resources available to them. Developed with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Field Guide to NQF Resources and QPS Version 2.0 allow users to quickly and easily access the information they need to support their quality measurement, reporting, and improvement efforts.

“The Field Guide to NQF Resources and QPS Version 2.0 are designed with the end-user in mind. With generous support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we were able to create two dynamic and easy to use tools, along with a number of new and helpful resources that we hope will provide a great benefit to those using quality measures to improve health and healthcare,” said Christine K. Cassel, MD, president and CEO of NQF.

The Field Guide to NQF Resources is a dynamic, online resource designed to help those involved with quality measurement and improvement more quickly find NQF resources that can be useful to them. It presents easy-to-understand explanations about quality measurement and NQF’s role. Each explanation is accompanied by a list of related resources to provide further information about the topic.

These resources include a newly-developed glossary or “phrase book” which defines terms and phrases related to measurement in plain language, and infographics that illustrate the intricacies of quality measurement.

NQF will also launch QPS Version 2.0, an enhanced version of NQF’s search tool that allows users to find NQF-endorsed measures and related information to support their healthcare quality improvement activities. The Quality Positioning System (QPS) is the most comprehensive and reliable source for finding NQF-endorsed measures, and includes useful features such as the ability to create portfolios – customized lists of NQF-endorsed measures. Since QPS’ initial launch in 2011, thousands of users have tested and used the interactive features, resulting in the creation of more than 70 public portfolios.

Driven by feedback from users, QPS Version 2.0 includes several enhancements, such as the ability to search for measures by their inclusion in Federal reporting and payment programs; provide feedback any time about the use and usefulness of measures; and view measures that are no longer NQF-endorsed, along with other key enhancements.

NQF will host a launch webinar to introduce the Field Guide to NQF Resources and QPS Version 2.0 on July 26 from 1:00pm – 2:30pm ET. Registration is now available online. The webinar will include a walk-through of the Field Guide to NQF Resources and a detailed QPS tutorial highlighting the new features available to users. NQF President and CEO Christine Cassel, MD, and Anne Weiss, team director at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will provide opening remarks.

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NQF 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.