What is a primary focus of the National Quality Forum (NQF)?

The primary focus of the National Quality Forum (NQF) is to improve healthcare quality. Established to enhance healthcare outcomes, NQF plays a critical role in setting national priorities for improvement in health care and endorsing standardized performance measures. This focus on quality encompasses initiatives aimed at making healthcare safer, more effective, and equitable for patients across various settings. By promoting transparency, accountability, and collaboration, NQF fosters a systematic approach to elevating healthcare standards, thereby driving improvements in patient care and health outcomes across the nation.

While regulating healthcare costs, recruiting healthcare professionals, and monitoring healthcare fraud are important aspects of the broader healthcare ecosystem, they do not align with the specific mandate and mission of NQF. NQF’s emphasis on quality improvement is crucial for ensuring that patients receive the best possible care and that healthcare providers are recognized for their efforts to enhance the quality of their services.