The Zen of Relationship-Centered Measurement and Engagement

Commit to improving what’s vital locally. Improve more than measure. Engage people at the center. Focus on relationships. Measure consistency & sustainability. Exercise weak muscles.

Introducing Ellen Schultz

Nothing about me, without me! Although she wasn’t the first to say it, I heard it first from my friend and fellow podcaster, Casey Quinlan. Valerie Billingham said it in 1998 at the Salzburg Global Summit. I first met Ellen Shultz in 2017 at a CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) Technical Expert Panel (TEP) on Quality Measurement. I heard her say nothing about me or for me without me. She wasn’t the first. I don’t know who it was. After we met, Ellen and I organized to push the TEP to advocate for patient engagement in quality measurement. Success! A recommendation became: Patients and caregivers need to be engaged in all aspects of measure development from priority setting to reevaluation. CMS defines quality measures as tools that help us measure or quantify healthcare processes, outcomes, patient perceptions, and organizational structure and/or systems that are associated with the ability to provide high-quality health care and/or that relate to one or more quality goals for health care. These goals include effective, safe, efficient, patient-centered, equitable, and timely care. I…