North Dakota Health Care Review, Inc.
And The Health Care Quality Improvement Program
North Dakota Health Care Review, Inc. (NDHCRI) serves as the Peer Review Organization (PRO) and Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for the Medicare program in North Dakota. In that role, NDHCRI directs the Health Care Quality Improvement Program, working with North Dakota's health care providers to improve the quality of medical care that beneficiaries receive. The following is a step-by-step explanation of a Quality Improvement Project:
1. Identify an opportunity for improvement
First, NDHCRI identifies an illness or disease that is
common among Medicare beneficiaries. We gather information
from the latest national research and identify an
opportunity for improvement.
2. Consult the experts
Next, through consultation with practicing medical experts
in North Dakota and by researching best practices, we decide
which practices we can reliably measure using information
from health insurance claim forms or from medical records.
These best practices are called "quality indicators."
3. Work with the health care team to conduct the
study.
Then, we work with the participating health care team
(hospitals, physicians, clinics, nursing homes, etc.) to
gather and analyze information from medical records or
health insurance claims. We report the results of the
analysis to the participants and show them how well they did
compared to their peers. All information is handled in a
confidential manner.
4. Develop a way to improve.
The participating project teams use what they have learned
to develop a plan to improve the treatment of the particular
disease or illness. After they put the plan into action,
NDHCRI measures again. This enables the participants to see
if they are making improvements.
5. Create value in health care.
With Health Care Quality Improvement Programs in place,
everybody wins. Medicare patients get the high quality of
care they deserve, and North Dakota's health care providers
get a complete package of quality improvement services.
Everyone receives health care value for their investment in
the Medicare program.
In addition to directing the Health Care Quality Improvement Program in North Dakota, NDHCRI also provides beneficiaries with education on health issues, health promotion, Medicare rights and responsibilities, and a hotline (1-800-472-2902) for reporting concerns.
For more information about North Dakota Health Care Review, Inc. and the Health Care Quality Improvement Program, write or call:
North Dakota Health Care Review, Inc.
800 31st Avenue SW
Minot, ND 58701
(1-800-472-2902) or (701) 852-4231
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