What is a Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program?
There are two distinct steps in any QAPI program. The first step is to assess the quality of care and identify potential areas for improvement. Ideally, improvements will be focused on high volume/high risk procedures or other services that stand to substantially improve quality of care. The assessment should be based on solid data (i.e. large number of patients presenting with a particular chronic condition or information from chart reviews). When available, RHCs are expected to utilize current practice guidelines and professional practice standards when comparing the care they provide. The second step is to correct or improve processes of care and clinic operations in a way that is expected to improve overall quality. Some data should be available to monitor the effect of this improvement. This data should be reviewed with an eye towards using the results to modify, strengthen or alter the intervention accordingly. If this process is followed, regularly collecting and analyzing infor
