Winter (Volume 28, Number 4)
Quality Care Committee Update
By Cheryl Barnabe, MD, FRCPC, MSc
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The Quality Care Committee (which was previously known as the Optimal Care
committee and was renamed this year) is responsible for issues in the field of optimal
care for rheumatologic diseases relevant to Canadian practice in alignment with
the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) Strategic Priorities. These issues are
conceptualized in four separate domains: equity, quality, access, and resource stewardship.
Equity: The major activity was the CRA Indigenous Health
Initiative, led by the Quality Care Committee in collaboration
with the Education and Annual Scientific Meeting
Committee Chairs and an academic family physician. The
purpose was to ensure a national distribution of interactive
and in-depth educational opportunities in Indigenous
Health for CRA members, based on an evidence-based
continuing medical education program. Our first cohort
of rheumatologists completed their training in September
2018, and the formal evaluation of program outcomes will
be presented during the 2019 Annual Scientific Meeting.
Quality: The Quality Care Committee has participated in
previous work to develop system-level quality care indicators,
and the selection of data items in a core dataset to determine
provider-patient quality care indicators. This year
we supported work led by Dr. Claire Barber in the development
of a balanced scorecard, which will provide feedback
on performance of these indicators. The inaugural award to
recognize an outstanding project in Quality Care Initiatives
was awarded during the 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting in
Vancouver.
Access: The Quality Care Committee Chair and several
committee members participate in the Arthritis Alliance of
Canada Models of Care Working Group. Funding was provided
to the Arthritis Alliance of Canada to support the development
of a business case for innovative models of care.
Dr. Rachel Shupak and Dr. Katie Lundon are completing
their analysis of the Stand Up and Be Counted 2 Survey,
to capture allied health resources in rheumatology across
Canada.
Resource Stewardship: The Choosing Wisely subcommittee
participates in national Choosing Wisely events,
identifies opportunities for practice audits and Choosing
Wisely implementation projects, and distributed a Joint
Count Survey to identify needs and directions in this activity.
In 2019, we will be working with the Guidelines Committee
to ensure equity considerations are integrated into the
RA and SpA Guidelines. Members and residents who are
interested in participating in this aspect are welcome to
contact me.
Cheryl Barnabe, MD, FRCPC, MSc
Chair, Quality Care Committee
Associate Professor
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
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