feature
Understanding the general quality
project in Dialogue at the end of 2015
indicators that will be used to evaluate
(Volume 11, Issue 4) and highlighted
a practice goes a long way in help-
how assessors were building con-
ing a physician prepare for their peer
sensus in the assessment approach
assessment. But actually creating a
by developing criteria for evaluat-
plan to move a specific aspect of your
ing quality care and supporting the
practice from ‘good’ to ‘excellent’ can
consistency of assessor feedback and
also be challenging.
decision-making.
So in an effort to give more direction
One of the new resources – the Peer
for quality improvement on specific topics,
Assessment Handbook – is a product of that
Dr. Aliya Khan
College assessors and invited physicians created
consensus-building and lays out the elements that
Quality Improvement (QI) Resources for important
demonstrate high-quality care and record-keeping for
conditions and patient presentations relevant to their
each specialty.
speciality. (See an example page pulled from a QI
If you are a family physician, for example, you can
Resource above).
review the Family Medicine Peer Assessment Hand-
“Reflecting on past assessments, peer assessors iden-
book for the general elements of quality that demon-
tified areas where a physician might choose to improve
strate effective history taking and management plans
the care they provide for specific common conditions,
relevant for the diverse types of patient presentations
such as hypoparathyroidism,” said Dr. Aliya Khan,
you see in your particular practice. These quality indi-
College peer assessor in endocrinology and clinical
cators will help you identify potential deficiencies and
professor in the department of medicine at McMaster
highlight opportunities for practice improvement.
12
Dialogue Issue 2, 2017