Evolution and elements of the quality oncology practice initiative measure set.
BACKGROUND
Over the past 5 years, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has supported the development of a Web-based quality-reporting tool in response to a recognized need to provide medical oncologists the opportunity to demonstrate the quality of care that they are providing to patients.


METHODS
The development of quality measures, their basis in the literature, and the descriptions and organizational structure of the measures are discussed.


RESULTS
Specific results are the property of practices and are not shared outside of the practices except in aggregate. The system allows collection of information concerning a wide range of quality measures in a short period of time. In the last data collection period in the fall of 2008, information was submitted concerning 81 measures of quality divided into one required and six optional modules from over 250 practices concerning 15,000 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The timely collection of information on a wide range of quality measures regarding cancer patients can be efficiently collected using a Web-based data collection tool allowing for practice self-examination and comparison with other practices.
Neuss
Michael N
MN
Quality Oncology Practice Initiative Steering Group, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, Virginia, USA. mneuss@ohcmail.com
Jacobson
Joseph O
JO
McNiff
Kristen K
KK
Kadlubek
Pamela
P
Eisenberg
Peter D
PD
Simone
Joseph V
JV
D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000592:standards*