Practice Improvement Modules (PIMs) are Web-based self-evaluation tools that guide board-certified physicians through chart abstractions and a practice system inventory to establish a robust multidimensional practice performance assessment for a chronic condition or preventive service. The interactive report guides physician reflection on detailed performance data, selecting areas for improvement, and creating an improvement plan with goals and strategies. Once the plan has been tried and its effect measured, the board-certified hematologist reports the results to the ABIM. In addition to receiving Maintenance of Certification credit, physicians who complete a PIM earn 20 Category 1 CME credits.
PIMs guide practice-based learning and improvement and include links to educational materials and other resources. No prior knowledge about measurement and improvement is needed to take the PIM.
The chart abstraction tool, provided free of charge on the ASH Web site, focuses on key outcomes and processes of care for each condition. The practice system inventory, available through ABIM, identifies both the human processes and information technology that might improve quality of care. By adding simple routines and using resources already available in practice, physicians can make substantial improvements in both reliability and quality of outcomes.
Completing the chart abstraction portion of the PIM can take from five to 10 hours depending a variety of factors, such as whether you are working with medical records in paper or electronic format, and how well those records are organized.
Currently, a hematology PIM is available in the area of myelodysplastic syndromes, multiple myeloma and perioperative anticoagulation management. The idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura chart abstraction tool is being revised in keeping with the new immune thrombocytopenia guidelines and will be available again shortly.
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