QUERI Model

The Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) is a multidisciplinary, data-driven national quality improvement program. This initiative is designed to translate research into optimal patient care and systems improvements by identifying best practices, systematizing their use, and providing the ongoing feedback necessary to sustain outcome improvements. Thus QUERI not only improves individual patient care but also systematically promotes continuous quality improvement at the national level. Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) QUERI is currently one of ten QUERI groups.  The ten conditions which are the focus of QUERI include: Colorectal Cancer, Chronic Heart Failure, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Ischemic Heart Disease, Mental Health, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, Substance Abuse, and Polytrauma/Blast Injuries.

Steps in the QUERI process:

1. Identify high-risk/high volume diseases or problems.
2. Identify best practices.
3. Define existing practice patterns and outcomes across VA and current variation from  best practices.
4. Identify and implement interventions (including performance criteria) to promote best practices.
5. Document that best practices improve outcomes.
6. Document that outcomes are associated with improved health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

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