Skip to main content

Improving Your Medical Practice

Demonstrating Quality

The Improving Health and Health Care (IHHC) component of the Continuing Certification (CC) Program is straightforward documentation of the incremental improvements you’re continually making in your practice or processes. Your IHHC (QI) project should follow the well-known Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology: identifying a problem, taking a baseline measurement, setting a goal, making a change, and measuring again to see whether you reached your goal.

Not familiar with IHHC (QI) or the PDSA methodology? Not to worry – our options will guide you through each step of the way. 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 in to your secure Certification Dashboard.

Completion of IHHC as a Resident

If you complete a qualifying Improving Health and Health Care (IHHC) project, during residency, you can bank it now and apply it toward your first 5-year Continuing Certification cycle.

Why it Matters

  • IHHC credit is a key part of your CC cycle
  • Banking a project now reduces your future workload
  • It demonstrates your proactive approach to certification

IHHC (QI) Project Options

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

You have several options for completing an IHHC (QI) project for Continuing Certification credit; see the list below for descriptions and links.

Name Cost Available CME Estimated Completion Time More Information
AAP Annual Meeting Posters
 Per AAP N/A
  • Varies
  • Original research abstracts selected for poster presentations at 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.
AAPM&R Annual Assembly Posters
 Per AAPM&R N/A
  • Varies
  • Original research abstracts selected for poster presentations at the Annual Assembly 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.
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 toward their Continuing Certification (CC) cycle the year the accreditation is issued.
  • Option 2: All physicians in a laboratory actively participating in the accreditation process can earn IHHC (QI) credit toward their CC cycle the year the accreditation is issued by completing a two-step review of patient reports.
ABPMR Self-Directed IHHC (QI) Project

Topic chosen by the diplomate relevant to their practice

 Free N/A
  • Dependent on project and review time
  • Review can take up to 8 weeks
  • NOTE: Sometimes reviewers request revisions, which can add more time
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) Accreditation or Reaccreditation
 N/A N/A
  • Varies
Det Norske Veritas (DNV) 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
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 can be found here
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 nonconsecutive and from different training programs
  • IHHC (QI) credit will be applied toward the current CC cycle in which the final year of participation is completed
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 nonconsecutive and from different training programs
  • IHHC (QI) credit will be applied toward the current CC cycle in which the final year of participation is completed
Patient-Centered Specialty Practice Recognition

Via the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA)

 Per NCQA N/A Per NCQA and institution
Portfolio Program
 Per institution Per institution Per 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
Preformatted IHHC (QI) Project: AANEM Options
  • Ulnar Neuropathy
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Electrodiagnostic Report Writing

Member: $125

Non-Member: $250

 20
  • Dependent on project
  • Process includes a 30-day mandatory lockout period for data gathering and analysis
Preformatted 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
Publications IHHC (QI) Project
 Free N/A
  • Review can take up to 8 weeks
  • NOTE: Sometimes reviewers 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 in which the article was published. To qualify, the publication must fall within the start and end date of the current CC cycle. Residents can apply the credit toward 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.