The Joint Commission released “Pioneers in Quality™ eCQM Proven Practices Collection: Recognizing Success 2017-2018,” a publication recognizing hospitals and health care systems that have successfully leveraged electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) and health information technology to drive quality improvement.

The publication features the work of nine hospitals in 2017 and 2018 that have advanced the evolution and utilization of eCQMs:

• BayCare Health System, Inc., Clearwater, Florida
• BJC HealthCare, St. Louis
• MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown, Maryland
• Memorial Hermann Health System, Houston
• Texas Health Resources, Arlington, Texas

• St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, Newburgh, New York
• St. Mary Medical Center, Langhorne, Pennsylvania
• Vail Health Hospital, Vail, Colorado
• VCU Health, Richmond, Virginia

Trends among organizations that have achieved success with eCQMs also are summarized, including ensuring data quality and accuracy, governance and structure collaboration, and optimizing clinical workflow and education. 

 In addition to nine organizations featured in the publication, The Joint Commission also has recognized 25 hospitals and health systems as 2018 Pioneers in Quality™ Solution Contributors, for providing additional practices, solutions and processes that demonstrate use of eCQMs and health IT for quality improvement, contributing to the body of eCQM adoption knowledge. Pioneer in Quality “Proven Practices” support peer-to-peer sharing of successes and strategies.

  All recognized 2018 Pioneers in Quality™ contributors are featured on the Pioneers in Quality section of The Joint Commission website.

 The Joint Commission, the United States’ leading accreditor of health care organizations, established the Pioneers in Quality™ program to assist and recognize accredited hospitals, critical access hospitals and health systems that report eCQM data, as well as to share best practices for all hospitals and systems in gathering, analyzing and leveraging eCQM data for quality improvement through:

• Using eCQMs as part of organizational quality improvement efforts
• Harmonizing clinical decision support and quality measurement
• Optimizing clinical workflow to support eCQM collection alongside quality care
• Managing clinical and administrative data effectively
• Aligning quality reporting and operational measurement goals
• Educating clinicians on quality improvement and electronic data collection

“We recognize these 2018 Pioneers in Quality™ health care organizations for their successful practice and innovation—as well as for their willingness to share their work through The Joint Commission and help inform peers on the journey to drive quality improvement through eCQMs,” says David W. Baker, MD, MPH, FACP, executive vice president, Division of Health Care Quality Evaluation, The Joint Commission. 

 Pioneers in Quality™ assists accredited hospitals in their transition to eCQM adoption through continuing education webinars and other educational programs, a resource portal, speaker’s bureau outreach and more. For more information, visithttps://www.jointcommission.org/topics/pioneers_in_quality.aspx.