The National Agenda for Quality Palliative Care: The National Consensus Project and the National Quality Forum

• Published in: Journal of pain and symptom management Vol. 33; no. 6; pp. 737 - 744
• Main Authors: Ferrell, Betty, PhD, FAAN, Connor, Stephen R., PhD, Cordes, Anne, MBA, Dahlin, Constance M., MSN, APRN, BC, PCM, Fine, Perry G., MD, Hutton, Nancy, MD, Leenay, Mark, MD, MS, Lentz, Judy, RN, MSN, NHA, Person, Judi Lund, BSW, MPH, Meier, Diane E., MD, Zuroski, Ken, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.06.2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Anesthesia & Perioperative Care; Biological and medical sciences; Guidelines; Humans; Medical sciences; National standards; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care) - organization & administration; Pain Medicine; Palliative care; Palliative Care - organization & administration; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Practice Guidelines as Topic; United States; United States; United States > US; Palliative care; Quality; Consensus
• ISSN: 0885-3924; 1873-6513
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2007.02.024

Abstract The release in 2007 of the National Quality Forum (NQF) preferred practices is a significant advance in the field of palliative care. These NQF preferred practices build on the clinical practice guidelines for palliative care developed by the National Consensus Project (NCP). The NQF is dedicated to improving the quality of American health care, and their focus on palliative care recognizes its growing place within the broader scope of health care. This article reviews the work of both the NCP and NQF and presents the domains and preferred practices that should guide quality improvement efforts in hospice and palliative care.