Quality and Outcomes Framework

Question 1

What are the 4 key indicators on which QOF is based?

Answer 1

• Clinical indicators -
  
  • Standards linked to* the *care* of patients suffering from *chronic diseases.
  • The largest domain in QOF.
• Public health - smoking cessation, cervical screening, child health surveillance* etc. Includes what were previously termed ‘additional services’. The *second largest domain of QOF.
• Quality and productivity - Auditing referral patterns and taking action to reduce admissions.
• Patient experience - based on patient surveys* and *length of consutlations.

Question 2

In what situations can patients be exempt from QOF?

Answer 2

1. Refusing to attend review who have been invited on at least three occasions during the preceding 12 months
2. Exemption due to disease circumstances e.g. Terminal illness, extreme frailty
3. Newly diagnosed/Recentlyregistered with the practice.
   
   1. 3 months = measurements
   2. 9 months - clinical standards met.
4. Suboptimal response despite maxium treatment.
5. Prescribing a medication is not clinically appropriate (e.g. allergy, contraindication)
6. Not tolerated medication
7. Patient does not agree to Ix/Tx (recordedin their medical records)
8. Health Condition but treatment is inappropriate (e.g. Cholesterol reduction but the patient has liver disease)
9. Investigative/Secondary care service is unavailable

Question 3

Is participation in QOF mandatory

Answer 3

NO, it is voluntary.

Question 4

What percentage of practices are visited randomly to prevent fraud?

Answer 4

5%

Question 5

Why was QOF introduced?

Answer 5

1/ To incentivise the management of chronic disease

2/ To improve the organisation of the practice and patient experience.