Contextual Factors Affecting Implementation of Pediatric Quality Improvement Programs

Design and Implementation of the Pediatric Quality Measures Program 2.0

The Pediatric Quality Measures Program (PQMP) was established in response to the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, aiming to measure and improve health care quality and outcomes for the nation's children. This brief report describes the PQMP 2.0 and its components. PQMP 2.0 established a priori research questions (Research Foci) and endeavored to assess usability and feasibility of measures through measure implementation and quality improvement initiatives. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded 6 grants to Centers of Excellence (COEs), and a contract to facilitate collaboration and learning across the COEs. The 6 COEs partnered with stakeholders from multiple levels (eg, state, health plan, hospital, provider, family) to field test real-world implementation and refinement of pediatric quality measures and quality improvement initiatives. The PQMP Learning Collaborative (PQMP-LC) consisted of AHRQ, CMS, the 6 COEs, and L&M Policy Research, LLC. The PQMP-LC completed literature reviews, key informant interviews, and data collection to develop reports to address the Research Foci; aided with development of measure implementation and quality improvement toolkits; conceptualized an implementation science framework, analysis, and roadmap; and facilitated dissemination of learnings and products. The various products are intended to support the uptake of PQMP measures and inform future pediatric measurement and improvement work.