NQF outlines boards' responsibilities for quality

The National Quality Forum unveiled clinical-quality guidelines for hospital board members under the title "Call to Responsibility." The guidelines are grouped into four principles: that boards should take concrete steps to fulfill their role in ensuring quality; enable effective evaluation of their role; become knowledgeable about the standards and issues related to patient safety, clinical care and outcomes; and oversee and be accountable for their institutions' national quality measurement efforts and improvement activities. An NQF spokesman said forum officials are considering ways to follow up on the recommendations. Read the guidelines. -- by Paul Barr