title: Importance of Performance Measurement and MCH Epidemiology Leadership to Quality Improvement Initiatives at the National, State and Local Levels.
abstract: Purpose In recognition of the importance of performance measurement and MCH epidemiology leadership to quality improvement (QI) efforts, a plenary session dedicated to this topic was presented at the 2014 CityMatCH Leadership and MCH Epidemiology Conference. This paper summarizes the session and provides two applications of performance measurement to QI in MCH. Description Performance measures addressing processes of care are ubiquitous in the current health system landscape and the MCH community is increasingly applying QI processes, such as Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of systems impacting MCH populations. QI is maximally effective when well-defined performance measures are used to monitor change. Assessment MCH epidemiologists provide leadership to QI initiatives by identifying population-based outcomes that would benefit from QI, defining and implementing performance measures, assessing and improving data quality and timeliness, reporting variability in measures throughout PDSA cycles, evaluating QI initiative impact, and translating findings to stakeholders. MCH epidemiologists can also ensure that QI initiatives are aligned with MCH priorities at the local, state and federal levels. Two examples of this work, one highlighting use of a contraceptive service performance measure and another describing QI for peripartum hemorrhage prevention, demonstrate MCH epidemiologists' contributions throughout. Challenges remain in applying QI to complex community and systems-level interventions, including those aimed at improving access to quality care. Conclusion MCH epidemiologists provide leadership to QI initiatives by ensuring they are data-informed and supportive of a common MCH agenda, thereby optimizing the potential to improve MCH outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 Taylor St (m/c 923), Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. krankin@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Kristin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Rankin
authors.affiliation: Office of Population Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Loretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gavin
authors.affiliation: Public Health Foundation, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.affiliation: Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program, Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Charlan D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kroelinger
authors.affiliation: Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, Rockville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Vladutiu
authors.affiliation: Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program, Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Health, Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Sappenfield
mesh_terms: D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D008483:Medical Assistance; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D058996:Quality Improvement
keywords: Contraceptive services; MCH epidemiologists; Performance measurement; Peripartum hemorrhage; Quality improvement