Quality improvement in pediatric rheumatology: what do we need to do?
OBJECTIVE
Quality improvement is a mandate for all individuals and institutions in medicine. Quality improvement has spread to the specialty certifying boards, resident education accreditation, licensure boards, and hospital medical staff offices. This review summarizes the thrust of quality improvement, provides justification for the conduct of quality improvement work, and reviews the progress in development of quality measures in rheumatology to date.


RESULTS
The American College of Rheumatology, quality of care, and quality measure committees have developed quality indicators for rheumatoid arthritis, gout, osteoporosis, and drug safety. Pediatric rheumatology is charged with developing quality measures for juvenile idiopathic arthritis; thus, there is a commitment to improve the processes and patient outcomes. Quality improvement science has progressed over the last decade and employs methodology that utilizes small number and rapid improvement cycles. Examples of this quality improvement methodology are elaborated in this review.


CONCLUSIONS
The review summarizes the history and current mandates for quality improvement in the medical community, progress made in the development of quality measures for adult rheumatologic conditions, and preliminary quality measures for juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and cites examples of quality improvement in progress in the pediatric rheumatology.
Passo
Murray H
MH
Division of Rheumatology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Taylor
Janalee
J
D006801:Humans; D010370:Pediatric Assistants / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000592:standards*