title: Measurement of patient outcomes: data availability and consistency across hospitals.
abstract: In a random sample of 20 hospitals, the availability and consistency of five patient outcome indicators were examined, including medication administration errors, patient falls, occurrence of new decubitus ulcers, nosocomial infections, and unplanned readmission to the hospital. The results indicate that information about only two outcome indicators--medication errors and patient falls--were collected consistently by the sampled hospitals. The findings are discussed in the context of implications for the study of patient outcomes research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Administration and Information Systems, School of Nursing, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Burleson
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology