Component 4: Practice Performance Assessment & Improvement
Overview
Under Component 4 of the OCC process for the specialty of Pediatrics, physicians must complete one practice performance assessment at any time during each three-year OCC cycle. Physicians can visit the AOA Physician Portal to submit their attestation form. You can log into the portal using your osteopathic.org user name and password. CME is not awarded for OCC Component 4.
There are two was to fulfill this Component: a Quality Improvement Project Activity (QI) or Practice Performance Assessment (PPA).
What is a Quality Improvement (QI) Activity?
A QI Activity consists of systematic and continuous actions that lead to measurable improvement in health care services and the status of targeted patient groups. The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) defines quality in health care as a direct correlation between the level of improved health services and the desired health outcomes of individuals and populations. QI activities can be completed within your institution or as part of a national initiative.
What are some examples?
QI activities often fall into two major categories: process improvement and condition management/improvement. Below are some examples of approved QI projects (please note that this is not a comprehensive list):
- Childhood obesity in primary care
- HPV Quality Improvement Project Midwest Region QI Collaborative
- Improving provider knowledge about trauma screening and care: Implementing use of ACE-Q
- AAP-CA2 HPV Vaccination QI Project
- Collaborative mental health program
- A quality improvement project to improve administration of the Hepatitis B vaccine birth dose within 12 hours of life
- Access to care
- COVID-19
- Telemedicine
- Wound care
- Discharge (planning, documentation, elimination of delays, etc.)
What is Practice Performance Assessment (PPA)?
OCC Component 4 requires that you engage in continuous quality improvement through comparison of personal practice performance measured against national standards for your medical specialty.
Non-clinical physicians: Access the attestation form under Component 4, and indicate on the form that you are a non-clinical physician and briefly summarize the type of work you are performing. Have a question? Contact your specialty certifying board.