Using National Quality Forum Breast Cancer Indicators to Measure Quality of Care for Patients in an AVON Comprehensive Breast Center

Abstract

In April 2007, the National Quality Forum (NQF) endorsed the first nationally recognized hospital-based performance measures for quality of care for breast cancer. The aim of this study was to measure quality of care at our AVON Center for Breast Care (AVONCBC) using these indicators. We retrospectively reviewed tumor registry and medical records of females under age 70 diagnosed with breast cancer in years 2005-2006. For patients diagnosed with hormone receptor negative breast cancer, 22 of 29 (75.9%) and 28 of 32 (87.5%) were considered for or received chemotherapy in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Of those patients, 21 of 29 (72.4%) and 24 of 32 (75.0%) were considered for or received chemotherapy within the NQF 4-month period. For patients undergoing breast conserving surgery (BCS), 20 of 23 (86.9%) in 2005 and 37 of 39 (94.9%) in 2006 were referred for adjuvant radiation therapy. The proportion of patients who received radiation therapy within 1 year of diagnosis was 18 of 23 (78.2%) and 29 of 39 (74.4%) for diagnosis years 2005 and 2006, respectively. The vast majority of patients in our AVONCBC are referred to medical and/or radiation oncology for adjunctive therapy and about three-fourths receive treatment compliant with the NQF QI. To increase our compliance rate, we are developing methods to improve access to the multiple disciplines in our AVONCBC. Using the NQF indicators serves to assess hospital performance at a systems-level and as a useful method for tracking cancer quality of care.

Challenges in the Delivery of Quality Breast Cancer Care: Initiation of Adjuvant Hormone Therapy at an Urban Safety Net Hospital

“…It is noteworthy that most women in our study were found to have received HT, albeit many outside the recommended time frame. Whereas reasons for never compliance were largely nonmodifiable (such as patients moving out of the country) and consistent with other studies, 19,20 the reasons for delays in care, though multifactorial, are potentially modifiable through innovations in care delivery. Despite a largely immigrant population, we found no difference in insurance status between compliant and noncompliant patients.…”

The effect of EUSOMA certification on quality of breast cancer care

“…A C C E P T E D ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 8 The second QI which scored worse after certification was patients with invasive breast cancer receiving just 1 operation (83.1% vs 80.4 %, p>0.001). This is likely due to the attempt of the new accredited units to maximize the proportion of patients treated with breast conserving surgery, leading to more secondary additional resections or mastectomies in order to obtain clear margins.…”

“…, A Costa (7), M Danei (9), A Denk (10), G Emons (11), K Friedrichs (12), N Harbeck (13), M Kiechle (14), U Koheler (15), S Kuemmel (16), N. Maass (8), C. Marth (17), A Prové (18), R. Kimmig (19), C Rageth (20), L Regolo (21), L Salehi (22), D Sarlos (23), C Singer (24), C Sohn (4), G Staelens (25), C Tinterri (26) …”

Indicadores de calidad en cáncer de mama

“…También nos parece importante definir a nivel de la Sociedad de Mastología, estándares mínimos y óptimos que permitan inicialmente que cada centro se autoevalúe para en un futuro plantear la necesidad de acreditación [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] .…”