The 2005 National Health Quality Report suggests that a push for health care quality improvement by U.S. quality improvement organizations (QIO) has been successful. The report found significant improvements in the delivery of diabetes, heart disease, respiratory, maternal and child health and nursing home health care. All but one of these areas were the targets of intensive efforts by the nation’s network of QIOs, which work under a contract with Medicare. QIOs are independent health care consultants, consultant organizations and hospitals that specialize in health care quality improvement.

The National Health Quality Report was compiled by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which releases it annually. The report found “modest” improvements in the overall delivery of health care, but notes much more rapid improvements in the areas that have been the focus of QIO work.

“In many areas, we know the specific treatment steps and procedures that are needed to improve quality,” says Carolyn Clancy, AHRQ director. “These reports indicate that when we focus on those best practices, we can make rapid improvement, especially when the results are publicly reported.”

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