Clinic quality improvement

The Clinic Quality Improvement (CQI) strategy is an organizational-level approach. This strategy funds changes in administrative and clinical processes, policies, and protocols, utilizes health information technology to improve cancer prevention and early detection, and increases capacity of health systems to monitor performance and implement evidence-based interventions (EBI). As compared to other Cancer Prevention and Early Detection (CPED) strategies, the CQI strategy is less prescriptive, as multiple activities and intervention options are available. Appropriate selection of interventions is based on organizational structure, existing activities, and Readiness Assessment results, etc.

The Clinic Quality Improvement strategy can be used to implement EBIs to improve breast and cervical and/or colorectal cancer screening rates. Organizations must have CDPHE approval for the EBIs and cancers that will be addressed through their Cancer Prevention and Early Detection (CPED) contract.

Program Manual Section 4: Clinic Quality Improvement

Calendar and deadlines

Readiness Assessment

With guidance from a Technical Assistance provider, organizations will conduct a Readiness Assessment one time to assess an organization's capacity and interest in implementing one or more of the following EBIs: Provider Assessment & Feedback, Provider Reminders, Patient Reminders, Reducing Client Out-of-Pocket Costs, Group Patient Education, One-on-One Education, Reducing Structural Barriers, and Small Media. Only organizations who are new to CQI, or that have selected a new cancer screening to focus on, will need to complete a Readiness Assessment.

The Readiness Assessment will document clinics’ current breast, cervical, and/or colorectal cancer screening processes, electronic health record (EHR) screening data quality, available clinic resources (e.g. staffing, IT infrastructure) to guide the selection of priority EBIs, and identify gaps in capacity or infrastructure that could hinder the implementation of EBIs. The Assessment will serve as baseline data collection for the CQI strategy. Included in the Readiness Assessment is a Workflow Mapping exercise.

Start-up activities

Strategy start-up activities to be completed by organizations adding the Clinic Quality Improvement strategy.

CQI Portfolio

This is the collection of evidence-based interventions, best and promising practices, used to guide and support a health system in the prevention and management of chronic disease.

Resources for Follow-Up Colonoscopy Sub-Strategy

See the Grant Management resources page to find additional resources for organizations to use to manage and implement the Clinic Quality Improvement strategy.

If you would like resources (including activities supporting capacity and infrastructure development, hypertension and diabetes, medical/dental integration, and tobacco) regarding CQI please visit the CQI for Population Health website here.

CQI Transition

In an effort to bring more expertise to CQI through practice transformation, the University of Colorado Practice Innovation Program is contracting with CDPHE to deliver the CQI program for colorectal, breast and cervical cancer. This new model will also make data reporting less cumbersome for clinics with a shift to automated eCQM data pulls through Azara with support from CCMCN. Additionally, practice facilitation will be provided by CCHN to provide technical assistance and support for the implementation of selected EBI. Clinic contracts for CQI will end December 31, 2022 and will begin contracting with the University of Colorado Practice Innovation Program to continue implementing the same EBI beginning January 1, 2023

More information on the process for this transition will be communicated with clinics as it becomes available. For questions regarding this transition please contact your CDPHE Organization Lead and CQI Strategy Lead.