Compliance with PCa quality measures not tied to outcomes
A study of patient outcomes 1 year after localized prostate cancer care seems to indicate that the answer is “no.”
New Orleans-Physician compliance with different quality indicators for localized prostate cancer care varies. However, while improving compliance may impact physician reimbursement in the recently established Merit-based Incentive Payment System, its relevance for ensuring delivery of quality care is unclear because increased compliance does not seem to influence patient-centered outcomes during the first 12 months after treatment.
Dr. SohnThat is the conclusion of study co-authors William Sohn, MD, and Daniel Barocas, MD, urologic oncologists from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Center for Surgical Quality and Outcomes Research, Nashville, TN
The research was presented at the AUA annual meeting in New Orleans.
“Quality indicators from national quality consortia were developed to be incorporated in the value calculation in medicine, which is the quotient of quality over cost. However, there are no studies validating that clinical outcomes are improved by complying with these measures for localized prostate cancer,” said Dr. Sohn, clinical instructor in urologic surgery at Vanderbilt.
“We propose that as we go forward in this era of patient-centered medicine, national quality consortia should indicate the anticipated effect of adherence to quality measures so that the value of adherence can be ascertained objectively. And, we believe there should be a focus on developing quality measures that will translate into improvements that are important and meaningful to patients.”
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