New Framework for Standardized Clinical Conditions and Performance Measures in Internal Medicine

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has introduced a comprehensive position paper proposing a unified framework aimed at prioritizing key clinical conditions and establishing high-quality, evidence-based performance measures for internal medicine physicians. The initiative underscores the urgency to replace the current array of often burdensome and low-evidence performance metrics with streamlined, meaningful measures that truly enhance patient care. By applying a structured, evidence-based approach, ACP identifies core clinical topics that affect a wide range of patient populations, such as osteoporosis and depression, to guide the selection of performance measures that are most likely to improve clinical outcomes.

This effort addresses the massive healthcare spending in the United States—approximately $4.9 trillion annually—despite outcomes that are often inferior to those of other wealthy nations. Transitioning to value-based care, which emphasizes quality over quantity, is a key goal of this framework. Currently, internal medicine providers are required to address an overwhelming number of performance metrics—up to 59 measures under Medicare alone and nearly 350 endorsed overall—leading to increased administrative workload and physician burnout.

The new framework advocates for focusing on high-priority conditions and patient-centered measures that align with actual healthcare needs, thereby making performance measurement more manageable and impactful. It also emphasizes the importance of reducing administrative burden to improve physicians’ experience and mitigate workforce shortages caused by excessive reporting demands.

The ACP’s position paper, authored by experts from various committees, is based on rigorous, evidence-based guidelines, and aims to influence national policy on quality measurement. This initiative reflects ACP's leadership in promoting credible, efficient, and patient-focused healthcare quality improvements.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-framework-approach-focuses-important-common.html