Can networked hospital performance comparisons be linked with total quality management? A scenario based on the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council.
The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council publishes annually performance comparisons on hospitals in nine regions of the state. As a result, hospitals are under public pressure to use these data in Total Quality Management programs. This article illustrates both the opportunity and the risk that publicly funded information poses for hospitals.
Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg.
J M
JM
Bentley
D003363:Cost Control; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005249:Fees and Charges; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007255:Information Services / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*