Quality Improvement (QI) at the American Academy of Pediatrics

How do I do QI in my practice? ••• How do I get involved in QI at the Academy? ••• What else is the AAP doing around quality?

Updates on The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA)

The commitment to quality improvement is implicit in the Academy's mission of promoting the health and well-being of all children. Over the past decade, numerous reports have highlighted the growing concern from the public, government and purchasers about the growing gap in health care quality - the difference between current health outcomes and those thought to be achievable using best practice models and clinical practice guidelines. The Academy has enhanced its range of programs, resources, and tools, as well as its relationship with external agencies and organizations to decrease the quality gap and provide optimal health care quality to all children.

AAP Members: See additional information about Quality and the AAP Strategic Plan

How do I do QI in my practice?

Education in Quality Improvement in Pediatric Practice (EQIPP) Are you interested in identifying and closing gaps in your practice using practical tools? Are you interested in documenting improved quality care on a continuous basis while earning CME credit and meeting MOC Part 4: Performance in Practice requirements? EQIPP offers courses on topics such as Nutritional Assessment, Asthma, Immunizations, GERD, and Bright Futures.

Practice Management Online (PMO) Are you looking for options to collect data and implement effective and innovation quality improvement programs in your practice? PMO provides pediatricians with theoretical and practical content as well as applicable tools that can be incorporated into the practice.

How do I get involved in QI at the Academy?

	Chapter Alliance for Quality Improvement (CAQI) Are you a chapter leader who is interested in quality improvement? Are you a pediatrician who is working with your local chapter on a quality improvement initiative? The Academy has developed the CAQI to serve as a resource to AAP chapters as they advance QI initiatives within member practices.
	Medical Home Initiatives Are you interested in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of health care for all children and youth within your community? Through a medical home, quality improvement activities are utilized to enhance well-child care, acute care, and chronic care for all children from birth through their transition to adulthood. Learn more about resources, tools, and practical strategies on how to increase access to medical homes in your community.
	Quality Improvement Innovation Network (QuIIN) Are you interested in participating in quality improvement activities with like-minded colleagues? Do you want to positively impact the pediatric profession while improving care for families? The QuIIN uses quality improvement science to implement and test interventions that in the end provide the pediatrician with tested tools to improve care.
	Steering Committee on Quality Improvement Management (SCOQIM) Are you interested in learning more about what the AAP is doing on quality measurement and pay-for-performance?  Are you seeking assistance on evidence-based medicine or guideline implementation in your practice? The AAP Steering Committee on Quality Improvement and Management offers an integrated voice for pediatric quality to advise and support the Academy's efforts to help pediatricians provide high quality care to children. Clinical Practice Guidelines Quality Measurement

What else is the AAP doing around quality?

	Alliance for Pediatric Quality Looking for pediatric-specific Quality Improvement initiatives for your practice? Learn more about successful and proven "Improve First" QI initiatives that are supported by the four organizations of the Alliance for Pediatric Quality -- the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), Child Health Corporation of America (CHCA) and the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI).
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES	Educational Opportunities Do you want to learn more about quality improvement or various quality improvement projects? Visit the educational opportunities page to find CME opportunities that focus on QI.
MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION	The AAP has developed tools for learning and evaluating your practice to help you on your pathway to understanding and meeting the components of Maintenance of Certification: Pediatrics.  Click here to learn more about Academy resources.  To receive specific information regarding your certificate and the American Board of Pediatrics Maintenance of Certification program, contact moc@abpeds.org or log into your profile page on the ABP website www.abp.org .
	Patient Safety Are you aware of the continued high prevalence of medical errors in pediatric care?  Are you a physician seeking tools to improve safety of care delivered to children in the practice setting? Are you a parent looking for strategies to ensure your child's safety in receiving prescriptions, surgery, and other health care?  Visit the AAP's Safer Health Care for Kids for information and tools to prevent medical errors in pediatric health care settings.
	Partnership for Policy Implementation (PPI) Are you an AAP member who is interested in improving the implementability of AAP policy at the point of care? The PPI program aims to create fundamental paradigm shifts in how policy is both written and ultimately integrated into care, using health information technology.
QI ORGANIZATIONS	Quality Improvement Organizations Are you interested in learning about the role of other organizations in quality improvement? Visit this page for a listing of external quality improvement organizations.
QI PROJECTS	Quality Improvement Projects Do you want to find an AAP QI project of interest to you? Do you want to learn methods and tools used for past and current AAP QI projects? Visit this page to obtain information about specific AAP QI projects including Bright Futures Training Intervention, Practicing Safety: Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, Safe and Healthy Beginnings, and more.
SECTION ON EPIDEMIOLOGY	Section on Epidemiology Are you interested in joining with others in learning and applying evidence-based medicine and epidemiologic methods to pediatrics?  Would you like to apply these skills to the development and review of policies affecting pediatric care?  The AAP Section on Epidemiology welcomes new members to join at anytime.

For further information on AAP quality improvement activities or for questions or concerns, e-mail dhcfqi@aap.org.