It’s not an understatement to say the work we do at NCQA impacts health care and—at some point—people’s lives. For those of us who are older or who need specialized care, NCQA is developing a way to measure the quality of that care.
Measuring Quality for People with Complex Needs
How do we start measuring quality of care for people with complex needs? NCQA is working with The SCAN Foundation and The John A. Hartford Foundation to figure that out.
It begins with understanding priorities. Doctors ask their patients—specifically, older adults with functional limitations and complex health issues—what’s most important to them. For the most part, the answers are general: “I want to live in my home and be able to spend time with my grandchildren.” Occasionally, they’re specific: “I want to be able to walk to the grocery store down the street.”
Person-Driven Outcomes
But no matter the answer, people’s priorities and health goals should guide their care.
Right now, existing quality measures don’t capture what’s most important to people, particularly older adults with functional limitations and complex health issues.
Want to learn more? Watch this video where NCQA’s Erin Giovannetti explains our project and why developing person-driven outcomes is so important.
