Influencing Quality Reporting: Using the Rapid Quality Reporting System in a Community Network

Background: Value-based cancer care warrants an exploration of ways that nurses can influence quality for patients with cancer, particularly in the community setting, where the majority of patients with cancer are treated.


Objectives: The purpose is to explore how community cancer centers met and sustained key quality breast cancer care indicators through implementation of the National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program Rapid Quality Reporting System (RQRS) and patient navigation projects.


Methods: The authors identified and interviewed staff at three sites that achieved significant increases in concordance with three breast cancer outcome measures: adherence to chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy. 


Findings: Three main themes emerged through analysis: awareness of measures, importance of navigator, and team approach. The use of the RQRS in a community setting, coupled with the deployment of nurse navigators, is one way to influence adherence to breast outcome measures.