FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS -- The U.S. Army Medical Command continues to make improvements in Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measures as it relates to dimensions of healthcare and service. HEDIS directly supports the Army's number one priority -- Readiness of the Force.
Lt. Gen. Nadja West, Army Surgeon General and Commander, U.S. Army Medical Command, stated in the 2016 Health of the Force Report, "Our readiness to deploy healthy individuals and organizations in support of the world's premier combat force must be without question. Readiness is our top priority."
HEDIS is one of the most widely utilized performance measurement tools throughout the United States. Administered by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), HEDIS is used by more than 90 percent of U.S. health plans to measure performance on certain dimensions of healthcare delivered. This standardized set of measures allows for true "apples to apples" comparisons of healthcare performance metrics within and across healthcare systems. These metrics allow the Military Health System to identify successes and target areas for improvement.
HEDIS includes performance measures related to dozens of important health-care issues. Selected measures include the following:
- Advising smokers to quit
- Antidepressant medication management
- Breast cancer screening;
- Cervical cancer screening
- Children and adolescent access to primary-care physicians
- Children and adolescent immunization status
- Comprehensive diabetes care
- Controlling high blood pressure
- Prenatal and postpartum care
As of May 2017, Army Medicine demonstrated superior performance in eight HEDIS measures, improved performance in two HEDIS measures, a flat trend in one HEDIS measures, and a slight decline in one HEDIS measure. The Army Surgeon General has directed a HEDIS compliance measure of equal to or greater than 75 percent.
Currently, the U.S. Army Medical Command assesses compliance for 18 HEDIS measures displayed in the Military Health System Population Health Portal (MHSPHP).
The portal includes:
- Acute Care Measures: Imaging Low Back Pain [LBP] Appropriate Testing for Children with Pharyngitis [CWP], and Appropriate Treatment for Children with Upper Respiratory Infection [URI])
- HEDIS Measures: Antidepressant Medication Management [Acute and Continuation Phase], Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screening, Chlamydia Screening in Women, Comprehensive Diabetes Care, Follow Up After Hospitalization for Mental Illness and Well Child Visits within 15 months.
To allow comparisons across healthcare systems, the NCQA publishes annual benchmarks. HEDIS criteria are used to benchmark treatment facilities using a common methodology; however, these measures should not be confused with Clinical Practice Guidelines, quality indicators, or standard of care.
As displayed in the Military Health System Population Health Portal (MHSPHP), scores that fall below the national 50th percentile are designated as needing improvement, those that fall between the 50th and 75th percentiles are fair, those between the 75th and 90th percentile are good, and those outstanding scores that are above the 90th percentile are excellent. Of the 81 HEDIS measures published by NCQA, the MHS collects data on all or part of 18 measures for the direct and purchased care systems.
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