The definitive source for information about Telehealth is to be found on the CMS sponsored web site: www.Medqic.org

CMS and MedQIC (excerpted from www.medqic.org)

“The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) developed this comprehensive online resource of quality improvement information for Medicare's National Quality Improvement Priority Topics

Health care in America is poised to be the best in world. Extraordinary medical and technical advances, committed healthcare workers, and rich resources represent the abundance of our system. Despite its promise, our system fails to consistently deliver the right care for every person, every time. To become the best healthcare system in the world, we need better systems and processes for our workers and patients, and more rapid dissemination of proven approaches. To achieve this vision for quality health care in America, every healthcare system should be safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable. Thinking broadly about health care transformation led to the development of a structure with thematic strategic areas: Adopt Health Information Technology, Measure and Report Performance, Redesign Processes, and Transform Organizational Culture.”

MedQIC (excerpted from www.medqic.org)

The Medicare Quality Improvement Community (MedQIC, pronounced med-quick) is a national knowledge forum for healthcare and quality improvement professionals. It provides easy access to quality improvement resources and a community of professionals sharing knowledge and experiences to accelerate healthcare quality improvement across the nation.

MedQIC is sponsored by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to support and promote its Medicare Quality Improvement Program and its contractors, the Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs), in helping Medicare providers deliver the right care to every Medicare beneficiary, every time. There is more information about this program on the CMS website. CMS also has websites that provide information for consumers and provider-specific quality measures, as well as other information related to the Medicare program.

MedQIC was launched in January 2003 to support the Health Care Quality Improvement Program (HCQIP). The HCQIP program was initiated in 1992 as a new approach to improving the health of Medicare beneficiaries. HCQIP involves analyzing data from various sources and changing the patterns of care to remedy widespread shortcomings in the healthcare system.

In 2004, MedQIC was redesigned through a partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) to use a structure and organization similar to www.IHI.org. The redesigned MedQIC was publicly launched in 2005 and will be refined continually to meet its end-users needs.

CMS provides this searchable online resource center to support activities to improve care in many health settings. Providers and QIOs can adapt and use the materials provided at this site to implement transformational change.

MedQIC fosters a community-based approach to quality improvement. The information found on MedQIC includes provider and QIO interventions that can change processes, structures, or behaviors in health care settings. In addition, various tools, literature, and success stories are available for MedQIC users to study and implement in their own quality improvement efforts. Contact your local QIO for assistance with your quality improvement efforts.

All of the content posted on MedQIC is reviewed and submitted by Quality Improvement Organization Support Centers (QIOSCs). If you are interested in submitting content, please contact the QIOSC responsible for the appropriate topic.