Measure, Learn, And Improve: Physicians’ Involvement In Quality Improvement

TLDR

Although quality improvement methods are increasingly adopted by payers, accreditors, and consumers, little is known about physician engagement, and the field remains institutionalized but not yet professionalized, requiring infrastructure and attention to professionalism, knowledge, and skills to accelerate physician participation. A 2003 national physician survey found that most physicians do not routinely use performance data, are reluctant to share it, infrequently participate in redesign activities, and that engagement is higher in larger and salaried groups.

Abstract

Payers, accreditors, and consumers are using quality improvement (QI) methods, but little is known about whether physicians do so. The results from this 2003 national physician survey indicate that most do not. Physicians do not routinely use data for assessing their performance and are reluctant to share those data. They infrequently participate in redesign activities. Physicians in larger and salaried groups are more likely to be engaged in QI. The science of QI has been “institutionalized” but not yet “professionalized.”Accelerating physicians’ adoption of and participation in QI requires building the infrastructure to support quality and paying attention to professionalism, knowledge, and skills.