The Impact of a Cohort Structure on Grantee Experiences Developing Clinical Quality Measures for Diagnostic Excellence.

Background: Diagnostic errors are harmful and pervasive. The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation funded the Diagnostic Excellence Initiative (Initiative) to support the development of clinical quality measures needed to inform quality improvement efforts in medical diagnosis. The Initiative leverages a unique cohort structure that combines technical assistance and cohort activities to foster innovation in groups of grantees. This manuscript shares grantee perspectives on their participation in these unique cohorts.

Methods: The authors conducted interviews with 16 Initiative grantees to understand how technical assistance and cohort activities affected their measure development process. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded using deductive codes.

Results: Grantees reported technical assistance and cohort activities provided as part of the Initiative effectively supported them in developing clinical quality measures. Technical assistance, including one-on-one technical support and work plans, helped meet project milestones and address implementation challenges. Grantees valued cohort activities, including office hours and in-person meetings, because they gave grantees the opportunity to connect with other measure developers and gain new perspectives on their work. Further, grantees reported learning about the measure development process and indicated participation in an Initiative cohort had positive effects on their careers.

Conclusion: Grantees believed the combination of technical assistance and cohort activities provided by the Initiative supported their ability to develop diagnostic quality measures. This suggests collaborative learning activities like those provided to grantees could effectively support other complex problems in health care.