Improving Your Medical Practice

Demonstrating Quality

The improving health and health care (IHHC) component of the Continuing Certification (CC) Program is a simple documentation of the incremental improvements you’re always making to your practice or your processes. Your IHHC (QI) project should follow the well-known IHHC Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology that involves identifying a problem, taking a baseline measurement, setting a goal, making a change, and measuring again to see if you reached your goal.

Not familiar with IHHC (QI) or the PDSA methodology? Not to worry – our options guide you each step of the way. And if you need ideas or assistance, use our IHHC (QI) Project Wizard (below). Options to fulfill the IHHC (QI) component include products available from other organizations, programs that may already be part of your organization’s offerings, and the popular self-directed IHHC (QI) project option from the ABPMR.

When you have a project ready to go, use the ABPMR IHHC (QI) Project Submission Form.

IHHC (QI) Requirement

How Many Projects Should I Complete?

Diplomates are required to complete one project every five years, along with the other 5-year Continuing Certification (CC) requirements. For detailed information about your current cycle requirements, please sign into your secure Certification Dashboard.

For detailed information about your current cycle requirements, please sign in to your secure Certification Dashboard.

IHHC (QI) Project Options

Options to Complete a IHHC (QI) Project for CC Credit

You have several options for completing a IHHC (QI) project for continuing certification credit; see the list below for descriptions and links.

Name Cost Available CME Estimated Completion Time More Information
ABPMR Self-Directed IHHC (QI) Project

Topic chosen by diplomate relevant to his/her practice

 Free N/A
  • Dependent on project and review time
  • Review can take up to 8 weeks
  • NOTE: Sometimes reviewers can request revisions, which can add more time
LA-PM&R IHHC (QI) Article Based Questions
 Included in Annual Fee Earn Category 1 and SA-CME from LA-PM&R participation
  • Full five-year cycle of LA-PM&R
  • Full details found here
Pre-Formatted IHHC (QI) Project: AAPM&R Options
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis
  • Low Back Pain
  • Osteoporosis
  • Stroke

Member: Free

Non-Member: $275

 20
  • Dependent on project
  • Process includes a recommended 30-day period for data gathering and analysis
Pre-Formatted IHHC (QI) Project: AANEM Options
  • Ulnar Neuropathy
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Electrodiagnostic Report Writing

Member: $125

Non-Member: $250

 20
  • Dependent on project
  • Process includes 30-day mandatory lockout period for data gathering and analysis
AANEM EDX Laboratory Accreditation Program
 Per AANEM Per AANEM NA
  • AANEM EDX Laboratory Accreditation Program
  • Option 1: The director who served during the accreditation process will earn IHHC (QI) credit towards their Continuing Certification (CC) cycle the year in which the accreditation is issued.
  • Option 2: All physicians in a laboratory actively participating in the accreditation process can earn IHHC (QI) credit towards their Continuing Certification (CC) cycle the year in which the accreditation is issued by completing a two-step review of patient reports.
Portfolio Program
 Per institution Per institution Per institution
Patient-Centered Specialty Practice Recognition

via National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA)

 Per NCQA N/A Per NCQA and institution
Practice Accreditation in MSK Ultrasound Guided Interventional Procedures

via the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine

 Varies N/A
  • Dependent on project and review time
  • Review can take up to 8 weeks
Participation in ACGME-Accredited Residency/Fellowship Program Evaluation Committee (PEC)
 N/A N/A
  • Minimum of three (3) years of participation (may be nonconsecutive)
  • PEC Participation Form
  • Form to be completed by program director. Submit completed form to office@abpmr.org
  • Participation may be non-consecutive and from different training programs
  • IHHC (QI) credit will be applied towards the current CC cycle in which the final year of participation is completed
Participation in ACGME-Accredited Residency/Fellowship Clinical Competency Committee (CCC)
 N/A N/A
  • Minimum of three (3) years of participation (may be nonconsecutive)
  • CCC Participation Form
  • Form to be completed by program director. Submit completed form to office@abpmr.org
  • Participation may be non-consecutive and from different training programs
  • IHHC (QI) credit will be applied towards the current CC cycle in which the final year of participation is completed
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) Accreditation or Reaccreditation
 N/A N/A
  • Varies
Joint Commission Certification
N/A N/A
  • Varies
Joint Commission Disease Specific Certification (JC-DSC)
 N/A N/A
  • Varies
AAPM&R Annual Assembly Posters
 Per AAPM&R N/A
  • Varies
  • Original research abstracts selected for poster presentations to the Annual Assembly program within the quality improvement category may be eligible to receive IHHC (QI) credit
  • Additional information may be requested by ABPMR for final approval
  • Please contact AAPM&R for more information.
AAP Annual Meeting Posters
 Per AAP N/A
  • Varies
  • Original research abstracts selected for poster presentations to the Annual Meeting within the quality improvement category may be eligible to receive IHHC (QI) credit
  • Additional information may be requested by ABPMR for approval
  • Please contact AAP for more information.
Publications IHHC (QI) Project
 Free N/A
  • Review can take up to 8 weeks
  • NOTE: Sometimes reviewers can request additional information delaying review time
  • Participants may be eligible to receive IHHC credit for authoring or co-authoring a published article that highlights quality improvement efforts within their medical practice or institution.
  • Participants are required to provide the abstract of the IHHC publication and upload a full copy of the publication.
  • IHHC credit will only be applied to the Continuing Certification (CC) cycle in the year which the article was published. To qualify, the publication must fall within the start and end date of the current CC cycle. Residents can applied credit towards their initial CC cycle once certified.
  • Submission Platform(requires authentication)

ABPMR IHHC (QI) Project Wizard

Wondering what to do for your Improving Health and Health Care (IHHC) project?

Answer a few simple questions for suggestions and resources for a project related to your practice area.