National Voluntary Consensus Standards for Ambulatory Care—Additional Eye Care and Melanoma Performance Measures: A Consensus Report 

Glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration are common eye conditions that threaten the eyesight of many patients annually. The American Cancer Society estimated that about 62,480 new melanomas would be diagnosed in the United States during 2008, occurring—unlike other common cancers—in young and old people. To fill the significant gaps in the endorsed measures for ambulatory care in the areas of eye and skin care, NQF has endorsed six measures in these topic areas. These consensus standards are designed to improve the quality of healthcare, via accountability and public reporting, by standardizing quality measurement in all relevant care settings. These NQF-endorsed measures are fully disclosed and available for use by any interested parties. The eye care and melanoma consensus standards are intended for use at clinician- and group-level assessment.