The QIO program’s Prevention Theme aims to improve the quality and frequency of preventive health care services to optimize beneficiary quality of life and health care efficiencies.

OFMQ provides technical support to physician practices using electronic medical records systems (EMR) to increase office efficiency, improve patient care and potentially improve reimbursement. Working together, we will assess, track and work to improve the rates of two cancer screenings (mammography and colorectal cancer [CRC] screening) and two immunizations (influenza and pneumoccocal) among Medicare beneficiaries. This work builds on our recent success over the last three years working with Oklahoma physicians to adopt and use EMR through the Doctors Office Quality-Information Technology (DOQ-IT) initiative. Now, we are helping physicians take their EMR to the next level to improve preventive care.

Opportunity for Quality Improvement

Oklahoma’s rate for influenza immunization is 39%, and the rate for pneumococcal pneumonia immunization is 43% (CMS claims data 2005). We have work to do to meet the Healthy People 2010 objective of 90% for people aged 65 and up. We need more effective strategies for delivering vaccines to high-risk patients, their providers, and household contacts. Also according to CMS data, Oklahoma’s rates for CRC screens and mammography are below the nation’s rates, and racial/ethnic minority patients are less likely than white patients to receive these important routine medical services. Quality improvement interventions that leverage health information technology (HIT) have the potential to improve screening rates through timely notification of providers and patients when a mammogram or CRC screening should be scheduled.

Quality Improvement Activities

Practices will work with OFMQ to conduct assessments of care management processes and use EMR systems for improvement. Our HIT experts will help you develop and use performance reports, and we will assist you in submitting data to CMS on a regular basis during the three-year QIO program.

Medicare QIO Program: www.cms.hhs.gov/QualityImprovementOrgs/

CMS: www.cms.hhs.gov/ColorectalCancerScreening/

MedQIC: www.QualityNet.org/medqic

CDC: www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm