Competency standards for quality are needed now more than ever

Competency standards for quality are needed now more than ever
Modern Healthcare; by Stephanie Mercado; 9/11/24
Stephanie Mercado is CEO of the National Association for Healthcare Quality. Healthcare quality is foundational to achieving the overarching goals of every care provider: improving population health, enhancing patient experiences, controlling costs, and more. Yet we are not where we need to be – and sustainably achieving quality and safety goals continues to be just outside of our reach. Why? New research from the National Association for Healthcare Quality reveals that people working in healthcare define quality very differently from one another. They use a range of terms like compliance, utilization management, safety, equity, population health, value. When stakeholders see quality differently and see each effort to advance quality as separate and distinct, it’s no wonder we are not further along in this quest for quality.
Publisher's note: This article discusses concerns including care, cost, the workforce cliff, and how quality is achieved.