Information for patients on the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP)
What is the NSQIP?
The NSQIP allows hospitals to understand where they can improve surgical care for their patients. They do this by comparing the quality of their care and the outcomes of their surgical patients against similar hospitals around the world. It was developed by American College of Surgeons.
How does the program work?
Every year the hospital collects anonymous information from at least 1,680 surgical patients. Then, compares their outcomes and complications against similar hospitals with similar patients. The data collected includes details such as:
- your date of birth, height, weight, smoking status and gender
- information about your surgical procedure
- medications you are taking and any conditions you have been diagnosed with
- your health outcomes after surgery, including issues like infections, blood clots, pneumonia or ongoing pain
- results of any blood tests or medical images such as computer tomography (CT) scans or x-rays.
This data is recorded, compared and reported back to the hospital.
The analysis of this information helps surgeons and hospitals better understand their quality of care. Hospitals can use the information to design projects to improve specific areas of care, based on how they are performing compared to other hospitals.
For patients, this results in better health outcomes and shorter hospital stays.
What’s happening in NSW?
NSW Health is committed to improving the quality and safety of surgical care delivered to patients. We joined the NSQIP in 2015. See the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program website for a full list of participating hospitals.
How do I participate in the program?
Each hospital randomly selects a number of patients to participate in the program. This means they will:
- review your medical records
- call you on the phone to talk about your surgical journey.
When answering these questions, it’s important to provide as much detail as you can.
During the call, you will be asked:
- Have you had any issues or complications associated with your surgery since leaving hospital? This might include any infections, blood clots or ongoing pain.
- Did you need to see your surgeon or another health professional for further advice associated with your surgery?
- Did you need to attend the emergency department or stay overnight at any hospital since your surgery?
- Have you had any other surgeries associated with your original surgery?
Can I opt out?
You don’t have to participate in the program and can ask not to have your information collected when you receive the phone call.
However, if you do choose to participate, the information is anonymous and your name is never recorded.
What evidence is there for the program?
A number of scientific papers have been published about the benefits of the NSQIP.
Based on these papers, the benefits of the NSQIP have been shown to include:
- increased patient safety and quality of care
- decreased risk of harm to patients
- increased patient satisfaction with their care
- ability to provide constructive feedback to organisation
- hospital staff have the skills and tools to make positive changes in the hospital
In NSW, hospitals have designed projects to reduce urinary tract infections, pneumonia, surgical site infections, unexpected returns to hospital and blood clots.
Thank you for your interest and participation in this exciting quality improvement initiative, we look forward to hearing about your surgery experience.