Project description:Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal, progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of motor neurons.(1) Patients with ALS lose function in the limbs, speech, swallowing, and breathing muscles. The cause of the disease is still not known for most patients. Approximately 25,000 people in the United States have ALS, and 5,000 people are diagnosed with ALS annually in the United States.(1) Most patients die from respiratory failure 2 to 5 years after onset of symptoms. Cognitive dysfunction is seen in 20% to 50% of patients.(2) The disease burden for patients and caregivers is enormous. The average cost of care has been estimated at $50,000 per patient per year.(3.)

| S-EPMC3863352 | biostudies-literature

Quality improvement in neurology: AAN Parkinson disease quality measures: report of the Quality Measurement and Reporting Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology.

Project description:BackgroundMeasuring the quality of health care is a fundamental step toward improving health care and is increasingly used in pay-for-performance initiatives and maintenance of certification requirements. Measure development to date has focused on primary care and common conditions such as diabetes; thus, the number of measures that apply to neurologic care is limited. The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) identified the need for neurologists to develop measures of neurologic care and to establish a process to accomplish this.ObjectiveTo adapt and test the feasibility of a process for independent development by the AAN of measures for neurologic conditions for national measurement programs.MethodsA process that has been used nationally for measure development was adapted for use by the AAN. Topics for measure development are chosen based upon national priorities, available evidence base from a systematic literature search, gaps in care, and the potential impact for quality improvement. A panel composed of subject matter and measure development methodology experts oversees the development of the measures. Recommendation statements and their corresponding level of evidence are reviewed and considered for development into draft candidate measures. The candidate measures are refined by the expert panel during a 30-day public comment period and by review by the American Medical Association for Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) II codes. All final AAN measures are approved by the AAN Board of Directors.ResultsParkinson disease (PD) was chosen for measure development. A review of the medical literature identified 258 relevant recommendation statements. A 28-member panel approved 10 quality measures for PD that included full specifications and CPT II codes.ConclusionThe AAN has adapted a measure development process that is suitable for national measurement programs and has demonstrated its capability to independently develop quality measures.

| S-EPMC3014235 | biostudies-literature

Quality improvement in neurology: dementia management quality measures.

Project description: Not available

| S-EPMC3888169 | biostudies-literature

Quality improvement in neurology: muscular dystrophy quality measures.

Project description: Not available

| S-EPMC4560061 | biostudies-literature

Quality improvement in neurology: Distal symmetric polyneuropathy quality measures.

Project description:Peripheral neuropathy is a common neurologic disorder, affecting 2% to 8% of the population in population-based studies with confirmation by neurologist examination. These prevalence numbers are remarkably stable across developed countries. In 1999, 8.6% of Medicare beneficiaries had neuropathy as a primary or secondary diagnosis, and the cost of treatment was estimated at $3.5 billion (Consumer Price Index adjusted to 2013 $4.9 billion), which did not include outpatient medications. Peripheral neuropathy has many causes and varies in regard to its clinical manifestations and severity. Distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP) is the most common pattern of peripheral neuropathy generally and the most common phenotype of neuropathy due to diabetes. Reported prevalence rates of DSP among diabetic patients range from 15% to 37% across large population-based studies, and the prevalence among those with impaired glucose tolerance has been reported to be 11%. DSP can result in weakness, sensory loss, pain, autonomic dysfunction, gait impairment, falls, disability, and impaired quality of life.

| S-EPMC4032209 | biostudies-literature

Quality improvement of neuro-oncology services: integrating the routine collection of patient-reported, health-related quality-of-life measures.

Project description:BackgroundBrain cancer has a strong impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and its evaluation in clinical practice can improve the quality of care provided. The aim of this project was to integrate routine collection of HRQoL information from patients with brain tumor or metastasis in 2 specialized United Kingdom tertiary centers, and to evaluate the implementation process.MethodsSince October 2016, routine collection of electronic self-reported HRQoL information has been progressively embedded in the participating centers using standard questionnaires. During the first year, the project was implemented, and the process evaluated, through regular cycles of process evaluation followed by an action plan, monitoring of questionnaire completion rates, and assessment of patient views.ResultsMain challenges encountered included reluctance to change usual practice and limited resources. Key measures for success included strong leadership of senior staff, involvement of stakeholders in project design and evaluation, and continuous strategic support to professionals. Final project workflow included 6 process steps, 1 decision step, and 4 outputs. Questionnaires were mostly self-completed (75.1%), and completion took 6-9 minutes. Most patients agreed that the questionnaire items were easy to understand (97.0%), important for them (93.0%), and helped them think what they wanted to discuss in their clinical consultation (75.4%).ConclusionsIntegrating HRQoL information as a routine part of clinical assessments has the potential to enhance individually tailored patient care in our institutions. Challenges involved in innovations of this nature can be overcome through a systematic approach involving strong leadership, wide stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning.

| S-EPMC6656295 | biostudies-literature

Quality improvement in neurology: Multiple sclerosis quality measures: Executive summary.

Project description: Not available

| S-EPMC4662704 | biostudies-literature