Enhanced Quality Measures

What are the Enhanced Quality Measures?

What has been apparent from the beginning of this Initiative is that Quality Measures are dynamic and will continue to be refined as part of CMS' ongoing commitment to quality. As of January 2004, CMS began reporting an Enhanced Quality Measure set that consists of standard measures endorsed by the National Quality Forum, a voluntary standard-setting, consensus-building organization representing providers, consumers, and researchers. In November 2004, the measure regarding Weight Loss was added. The Pneumonia and Influenza Vaccination Quality Measures were added in October 2006.

Long-Stay Quality Measures:

• Percent of Long-Stay Residents Given Influenza Vaccination During the Flu Season
• Percent of Long-Stay Residents Who Were Assessed and Given Pneumococcal Vaccination
• Percent of Residents Whose Need for Help With Daily Activities Has Increased
• Percent of Residents Who Have Moderate to Severe Pain
• Percent of High-Risk Residents Who Have Pressure Sores
• Percent of Low-Risk Residents Who Have Pressure Sores
• Percent of Residents Who Were Physically Restrained
• Percent of Residents Who are More Depressed or Anxious
• Percent of Low-Risk Residents Who Lose Control of Their Bowels or Bladder
• Percent of Residents Who Have/Had a Catheter Inserted and Left in Their Bladder
• Percent of Residents Who Spent Most of Their Time in Bed or in a Chair
• Percent of Residents Whose Ability to Move About in and around Their Room Got Worse
• Percent of Residents with a Urinary Tract Infection
• Percent of Residents Who Lose Too Much Weight

Short-Stay Quality Measures:

• Percent of Short-Stay Residents Given Influenza Vaccination During the Flu Season
• Percent of Short-Stay Residents Who Were Assessed and Given Pneumococcal Vaccination
• Percent of Short-Stay Residents With Delirium
• Percent of Short-Stay Residents Who Had Moderate to Severe Pain
• Percent of Short-Stay Residents With Pressure Sores

You may obtain the updated National Nursing Home Quality Measures User's Manual, Snapshot, NHQI QM Definitions, and Consumer language on the CMS Web site.