Current issues in quality improvement in cystic fibrosis.
The modern history of cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of continuous improvement. Guidelines and evidence-based medicine provide a general roadmap for directing improvement efforts. Data and measurement are central to quality improvement (QI), a way of keeping score and staying on track. This article describes the history and context of QI in CF, the use of guidelines and data with some examples from the work of one regional consortium, some approaches to developing QI skills with a view to implementing and managing desired changes in CF clinic settings, and the potential benefits and impact of public reporting and data transparency.
Quinton
Hebe B
HB
Clinical Research Section, Department of Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA. hebe.b.quinton@dartmouth.edu
O'Connor
Gerald T
GT
D019985:Benchmarking; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D015969:National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, U.S., Health and Medicine Division; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D017749:Total Quality Management; D014481:United States