AQA Adopts Surveillance Colonoscopy Measure

The AQA Alliance, an organization that works to improve healthcare quality and patient safety, recently adopted its first measure specific to endoscopy. It is called the Surveillance Colonoscopy Interval for Patients with a History of Colonic Polyps- Avoidance of Inappropriate Use. To access the document, click here.

This is one of three measures developed jointly by the AGA Institute and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), in collaboration with the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), through the AMA Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement™ (PCPI) measures development process.

The major considerations that guided The PCPI Endoscopy and Polyp Surveillance Performance Measures Work Group's efforts were to develop evidence-based guidelines for gastroenterology and gaps/variation in care.

The AQA-adopted measure addresses follow-up colonoscopy intervals for adults who have a history of colonic polyps. The measure was included by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) in a proposed rule for the 2009 Physician Quality Reporting (PQRI) program, pending AQA adoption or National Quality Forum (NQF) endorsement.

In addition, the Endoscopy and Polyp Surveillance Performance Measures Work Group has developed measures related to appropriate follow-up interval for normal colonoscopy in average-risk patients, and comprehensive colonoscopy documentation.

Source: American Gastrointestinal Association