Deadline to submit: December 29, 2025

Purpose of Project COMPASS 

Project COMPASS is a national quality improvement (QI) initiative designed by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) to improve the diagnosis and management of obesity across U.S. health systems. The project aligns with AACE’s Global Education and Quality Improvement Priorities (2024–2028). Endocrine practices selected for participation will engage in data-driven improvement cycles, education, and implementation support using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) methodologies.

Framework and Evaluation Plan 

Project COMPASS will employ a structured QI framework grounded in the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Model for Improvement and AHRQ Science of Improvement methodologies. Each participating health system will implement iterative Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles supported by AACE’s QI faculty and consultants.

Project COMPASS will be a two-year national QI Collaborative with at least three diverse health systems (academic, community, and rural).

Strategy and Interventions:

Each health system will implement interventions within a unified QI framework:

1. Standardized Screening & Diagnosis – Embed EHR tools and workflows to improve BMI documentation and diagnostic coding.
2. Provider & Patient Engagement – Deploy conversation aids, SMART scripts, decision guides, stigma-reduction education, and patient-facing communication tools.
3. Multidisciplinary Care Integration – Strengthen referral pathways to nutrition, physical activity, behavioral health, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery where appropriate.

Core Components:

• Baseline assessment: Evaluate current obesity care documentation, diagnosis rates, and treatment patterns.
• Root cause analysis: Use structured process mapping and fishbone analysis to identify barriers.
• Intervention design: Develop targeted solutions embedded within standardized frameworks.
• Implementation support: Facilitate webinars, peer learning, and individualized coaching.
• Measurement and feedback: Continuously track data and performance benchmarks.

Outcomes Measures

Outcomes will be assessed using objective data sources (EHR extracts, quantitative and subjective surveys, and QI tracking tools). Deidentified data will be collected.

Primary Measures:

• Increase in BMI documentation (target: 60% → 90%).
• Increase in obesity diagnosis (target: 45% → 75%).
• Increase in evidence-based care delivery: lifestyle and behavioral health counseling/referral, nutrition services, pharmacotherapy, and surgery referrals.

Secondary Measures:

• ≥5% BMI reduction or ≥5% weight loss in 25%–30% of enrolled patients at 12 months.
• Waist-to-height ratio <0.5 or waist-to-hip ratio <0.8 in some patients.
• Increased follow-up visits for obesity management.

Balancing Measures:

• Provider workflow burden.
• Patient satisfaction with obesity care.

The measures outlined in this proposal are not duplicative of CMS QI programs.

Initiative Timing

• Pre-launch (Jan–Mar 2026): Site recruitment, contracts, baseline data.
• Onboarding (Apr–Jun 2026): Root cause analyses, mapping sessions, baseline surveys.
• Implementation (Jul 2026–Mar 2027): Interventions deployed, QI cycles, monthly webinars. (monthly check ins)
• Analysis & Reporting (Apr–Aug 2027): Outcomes evaluation, dissemination, publication.

Award: $110,000 per Health System Partner

Deadline to submit: December 29, 2025

Email completed application and required attachments to: [email protected]