The National Health Council is using a $246,300 award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to design a healthcare quality curriculum for patients.
According to Eleanor Perfetto, PhD, NHC senior vice president of strategic initiatives, many experts agree healthcare quality should be measured and quality information should be shared with patients so they can chose providers and treatments.
"However, patients and the organizations that represent them have not been significantly involved in the development and evaluation of quality measures and performance programs," said Dr. Perfetto. "How can quality measures reflect aspects of care and outcomes important to patients if people with chronic conditions aren't part of the process?"
To address this lack of patient engagement, NHC's curriculum will:
- Help patient advocacy organizations and people with chronic diseases and disabilities understand the importance of their engagement in health quality discussions
- Include terms and definitions of quality measurement research, development, testing and evaluation
- Outline how quality programs are implemented and their impact on patients
- Demonstrate how patients can be meaningful participants in quality engagement opportunities
The curriculum is part of a portfolio approved for PCORI funding to help develop a skilled community of patients and stakeholders from across the healthcare continuum and to engage them in every aspect of the research institute's work.
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