In 2023 the Science & Quality Council continued to provide strategic oversight to shape and execute the science, data, and quality components of AUA’s mission to promote the highest standards of urological clinical care. We saw tremendous progress in all three areas for the year, which we will continue to build on moving into 2024 (Figure).

Figure. Science & Quality fast facts for 2023. AQUA indicates AUA Quality; E-QIPS, Engage with Quality Improvement and Patient Safety.

Guidelines

Guidelines had a productive year with the release of 2 new full-length guidelines, including “Early Detection of Prostate Cancer” and “Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma,” and an additional 5 amendments, including “Advanced Prostate Cancer,” “Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia,” “Stress Urinary Incontinence,” “Testicular Cancer,” and “Urethral Strictures.” In total, 9 executive summaries of AUA guidelines, updates, amendments, and endorsements were featured in The Journal of Urology^® for 2023.

Looking forward to 2024, development will continue on full-length guidelines on “Chronic Pelvic Pain in Men,” “Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause,” “Management of Kidney Stones,” “Overactive Bladder,” “Salvage Therapy for Prostate Cancer,” and “Vasectomy.”

All Guidelines resources and related materials are freely available via the AUA Guidelines website and Guidelines-at-a-Glance App. Members are reminded that the Guidelines program welcomes participation in guideline development via topic nomination, panel participation, and peer review. For additional information and available opportunities to work with Guidelines, visit https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines.

Data and Statistical Services

The AUA Quality (AQUA) Registry saw incredible growth in 2023, surpassing 12 million included patients from nearly 2400 providers representing 217 practices. For the eighth consecutive year, AQUA was approved as a Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR) for Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

This year also brought the launch of the new AUA Data Research Program. This funding opportunity supports clinical and workforce research projects using data from the AUA Data Repository to address key knowledge gaps and emerging research questions related to urological care, workforce development, and health policy. An evolution from the former AUA Data Grants Program, proposals selected for the Data Research Program will have analytic support from AUA Data staff, permitting broader participation of investigators who may not have data analytic resources in their practices. Six projects were funded in January 2024, with 4 using AUA Census data and 2 using AQUA Registry data.

Activities of the Data and Statistical Services team were featured in 48 peer-reviewed publications covering topics such as smoking cessation, gender diversity in residency cohorts, differential treatment and practice limitations, and factors influencing medical students’ pursuit of urology. A further 12 abstracts were developed in 2023 using AQUA Registry or AUA Census data.

For additional information on how Data and Statistical Services might benefit your practice, visit https://www.auanet.org/research-and-data.

Quality and Measurement

Quality and Measurement had a busy 2023 working with the AQUA team via the Measure Evaluation Panel to provide input during the 2024 CMS QCDR self-nomination process. In addition to confirmation of QCDR status, CMS approved 8 urology-specific AQUA measures for use in MIPS for PY2024. Staff also collaborated with external partners to develop and submit a draft MIPS Value Pathway (MVP) for Urology to CMS.

On the Quality front, the department convened its first post-COVID in-person Quality Improvement Summit at AUA headquarters on “Tackling Telehealth: Improving Quality and Access by Integrating Virtual Care in Urology.” Furthering the work of E-QIPS (Engage with Quality Improvement and Patient Safety), a webinar was convened targeting AUA practice managers: “Fighting Frustrations: Using Lean Methodology to Increase Clinic Efficiency.” Also notable, Science & Quality leadership drafted the “National Quality Agenda and Strategies for Urologic Practice” as part of a collaborative effort with the American Board of Urology to address 2 new American Board of Medical Specialties standards designed to foster improvements in care quality.

For additional information on working with Quality and Measurement, visit https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/quality-and-measurement.