§7311A Quality Management Officers

Summary

The Under Secretary for Health must pick a top quality manager for VA medical care called the National Quality Management Officer. That officer reports directly to the Under Secretary and runs the VA’s quality-assurance program. The officer must set and enforce program rules, make a combined quality score using existing data sources (for example, the Inpatient Evaluation Center, the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, and the External Peer Review Program), watch and analyze existing measures (including System‑Wide Ongoing Assessment and Review reports and Combined Assessment Program reviews by the Office of Inspector General) so problems are found quickly, support research to improve quality measures, and do other quality tasks the Under Secretary assigns. The officer must also create a confidential way for staff to report quality concerns and set up peer review for VA physicians. Each regional VA network director must appoint a network quality management officer who reports to the regional director and the National Quality Management Officer, runs the network quality office, and coordinates quality work across facilities. Each medical facility director must appoint a facility quality management officer who reports to the facility director and the network officer and who designs and carries out local quality programs that meet the national rules. Money may be appropriated as needed to run this plan, and $25,000,000 is specifically authorized to support developing the combined metric, monitoring measures, and research over the two fiscal years that begin after this law is enacted.