title: The imperative of outcomes analysis: an integration of traditional and nontraditional outcomes measures.
abstract: The health care industry is compelled to reduce costs while providing high-quality patient care. Outcomes analysis enables monitoring and maintenance of quality of care in our rapidly changing practice environment. Comprehensive outcomes research cannot occur, however, without a database incorporating practice-related data, interventions and components of care, and outcomes of care. The article reports the design and proposed implementation of an outcomes assessment infrastructure in a multifacility health maintenance organization in Northern California. The infrastructure integrates traditionally measured outcomes and cost data with nontraditional, nurse-influenced, health-related outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Administration, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Seipert
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lush
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D007324:Institutional Management Teams; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*