Timely intervention, monitoring and education MATTERS in MS (TIME MATTERS in MS): Development of a globally applicable quality improvement tool

Abstract

Background Previously, consensus MS care standards were defined by MS specialist neurologists from 19 countries. We developed, piloted and refined an Excel-based quality improvement tool to enable MS services to benchmark against these standards. Here, we examine the refined tool. Objective To determine the applicability of the quality improvement tool in different healthcare settings. Methods MS centres across the globe were invited to pilot the quality improvement tool by coding the medical records of 36 adults with MS. We invited feedback on user friendliness, quality improvement tool usefulness and relevance of data collected. Results Seventeen centres from 14 countries participated; 14 completed the post-service evaluation survey. Over 50% of responders rated the tool ‘very easy’ or ‘easy’ to use and ‘very relevant’ to their service. Almost 85% of responders (11/13) planned to introduce changes to their service, including improvements in documentation, communication, interactions with colleagues and referrals; 85% would use a future shorter version of the tool. Conclusions The quality improvement tool can enable MS centres globally to benchmark their services. Widespread uptake of a shorter tool may help MS centres to work towards achieving consensus standards for brain health-focused care. Incorporation into routine clinical practice would drive adoption.

Building digital patient pathways for the management and treatment of multiple sclerosis

“…To counter these challenges, researchers and MS professionals advocate the establishment and implementation of quality standards and recommend that specialists with expertise in relevant functional domains should be involved in MS care (81,82). Digital patient pathways can help put these recommendations into practice as they can support the management and coordination of MS care across the whole care chain.…”