Meeting the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services requirements for quality assessment and performance improvement: a model for hospitals

Abstract

The Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) model seeks to improve the structures and processes of delivering healthcare to gain better outcomes in patient care. The goal of the model described in this article is to create an integrated approach for hospitals to meet the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) quality requirements. This article describes the results of this data-driven QAPI method via utilization of this model and its processes. The Safety without Restraint task force of Swedish Covenant Hospital was created to evaluate compliance with CMS restraint standards and identify discrepancies that would provide multiple opportunities to improve performance. The use of this model provided nurse leaders an opportunity to improve patient care as well as meet the CMS requirements for QAPI.