Primary Care Quality Improvement Metrics and National Committee on Quality Assurance Medical Home Recognition for Children With Medical Complexity

The Complex Care Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center developed and implemented a set of evidence-based clinical process measures of immunization delivery, preventive and chronic condition laboratory screening, and behavioral health medication surveillance for use in the primary care setting. METHODS: Improvement activities focused on 4 measures across 4 domains mandated by the National Committee on Quality Assurance for patient-centered medical home recognition. Interventions were implemented in phases from January 2017 to October 2018. The goal was the improvement in immunizations, preventive lead screening, vitamin D testing in chronic conditions, and behavioral health medication surveillance. Preventative lipid screening in the entire population and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in patients with Down syndrome were also measured. RESULTS: The offering and the completion of an immunization bundle increased from a mean of 61.0% to a mean of 83.7% of patients. Eligible patients with documented lead surveillance increased from 61.2% to 96.5%. Patients with documented 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels increased from 72.2% to 87.8%. The percentage of patients metabolically monitored while taking an atypical antipsychotic continued at 92.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Using quality improvement education, data measurement/feedback, electronic medical record optimization/decision support, and care gap identification with planned care, the Complex Care Center demonstrated improved reliability in needed immunization delivery and laboratory screenings for a heterogeneous primary care population of children with medical complexity. As the numbers of children with medical complexity rise, so does the importance of reliable processes and relevant measures for quality in their unique care delivery systems.