Prevention

This area focuses on the prevention or slowing of disease progression by early testing and effective, timely interventions, with an emphasis on evidence-based and cost-effective care.



 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program has been partnering with physician offices since August 2005 to drive innovation and help physician offices adopt electronic health records (EHRs) and other health information technology (HIT) solutions. QIOs are collaborating with healthcare providers, consumers and stakeholder groups to refine care delivery systems to ensure that all persons, particularly those from underserved populations - get the right care at the right time.

QIOs are specifically teaming with select physician offices to leverage their EHR systems to help improve immunization rates for influenza and pneumonia, as well as breast and colorectal cancer screening rates. This HIT improvement activity began on August 1, 2008 and will continue through July 31, 2011.

QIOs are now:

  • Supporting the monitoring of practice populations
  • Promoting care management processes for preventive services using EHRs
  • Providing technical assistance with practice workflow analysis and data reporting from EHRs
  • Monitoring statewide rates (mammograms, colorectal cancer screens, influenza and pneumococcal immunizations)

Prevention Executive Summary