Measure, learn, and improve: Physicians' involvement in quality improvement

Payers, accreditors, and consumers are using quality improvement (QI) methods, but little is known about whether physicians do so. The results from this 2003 national physician survey indicate that most do not. Physicians do not routinely use data for assessing their performance and are reluctant to share those data. They infrequently participate in redesign activities. Physicians in larger and salaried groups are more likely to be engaged in QI. The science of QI has been "institutionalized" but not yet "professionalized." Accelerating physicians' adoption of and participation in QI requires building the infrastructure to support quality and paying attention to professionalism, knowledge, and skills.