1. E-QUAL Avoidable Imaging Kick Off

2. E-QUAL Emergency Quality Network
National quality movement, supported by CMS
Enrolling over 24,000 Emergency clinicians over the next 4 years to participate in quality improvement activities focused on:
Improving outcomes for patients with sepsis
Reducing avoidable imaging in low risk patients by implementation of ACEP’s Choosing Wisely recommendations
Improving the value of ED evaluation for low risk chest pain by reducing avoidable testing and admissions
What is EQUAL

3. MIPS Merit-based Incentive Payment System
New Medicare reimbursement program that links quality and data reporting to reimbursement
Medicare reimbursement
Automatic reimbursement increases from
After 2019, reimbursement will be based on our performance under MIPS
MIPS has two categories for measuring the performance of Emergency clinicians
Quality
Sepsis care is one of the quality measures
Clinical Practice Improvement Activities (CPIA)
E-QUAL is likely a high-value CPIA
E-QUAL is considered an activity for CPIA

4. E-QUAL and MOC Part IV Credit
E-QUAL will be listed on the ABEM drop down list of opportunities
ED Director will need to be listed attesting that the individual participated in E-QUAL.
E-QUAL hopes to develop “automatic” credit soon
E-QUAL and CME Credit
All E-QUAL webinars/podcasts will be associated with eCME credit.
To obtain credit visit the E-QUAL homepage

5. Avoidable Imaging Goal: Choosing Wisely:
To reduce testing and imaging with low risk patients through the implementation of EM specific Choosing Wisely Recommendations
Choosing Wisely:
Initiative of the ABIM Foundation and Consumer Reports
Aim to advance national dialogue on avoiding unnecessary tests, treatments, procedures
Identified “Top 5” list from nine specialty societies

6. Avoidable Imaging Aims:
Reduce use of high-cost imaging for low back pain
Reduce head CT scan after minor head injury
Reduce head CT scan after syncope
Reduce chest CT for pulmonary embolus
Reduce abdominal CT for renal colic

7. E-QUAL Avoidable Imaging Toolkit
Guidelines and Materials
From Choosing Wisely, ACEP, PECARN
Educational Resources and Lectures for CME
Update on most recent Imaging literature
Data collection tools
Patient Engagement materials
Webinar/Podcast series
Initiation & implementation of avoidable imaging initiatives

8. Interventions to Improve Care
Implementation of a standard diagnostic algorithms for these five common conditions
Utilization of EMR for decision support
Creation of condition specific order sets and advanced decision support to drive best care
Leverage CEDR and E-Qual data analytics tools to provide feedback to providers