A Transplant-Specific Quality Initiative-Introducing TransQIP: A Joint Effort of the ASTS and ACS

Area of Science:

• Surgical Quality Improvement
• Transplant Surgery
• Health Services Research

Background:

• The American College of Surgeons and American Society of Transplant Surgeons initiated a national quality improvement program.
• There was a need for a transplant-specific program to enhance surgical quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Transplant Quality Improvement Program (TransQIP).
• To outline TransQIP's design, data collection, and anticipated benefits for transplantation quality.

Main Methods:

• TransQIP is built upon the existing ACS/National Surgical Quality Improvement Program infrastructure.
• It captures comprehensive data on donor/recipient factors and transplant outcomes for 100% of liver and kidney transplants at participating sites.
• The program completed its alpha pilot and is entering a beta phase at ~30 centers.

Main Results:

• The program is designed for comprehensive data capture in liver and kidney transplantation.
• It has successfully completed its alpha pilot phase.
• Beta phase is scheduled to commence in Spring 2017 at approximately 30 centers.

Conclusions:

• TransQIP is expected to meet quality improvement requirements for CMS and surgeon maintenance of certification.
• It will qualify as a clinical practice improvement activity under the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System.
• The program aims to provide crucial insights into surgical outcomes to advance patient care in transplantation.