title: Prioritizing performance measures for geriatric medical services: what do the purchasers and providers think?
abstract: We sought the views of purchasers and provider managers in the South and West Region on the relative priorities of 15 possible performance measures of a geriatric medical service. Using a postal questionnaire, subjects were asked to rank the measures in order of priority. Improving patients' quality of life was judged the most important measure by all groups except for the purchasing chief executives, who placed it second to improving patients' physical function (which was overall the second most important measure). The lowest priority was given to measurement of levels of activity and reducing mortality rates. Priorities were similar to those found with patients and geriatricians in a previous study, and supports the development and use of performance measures of disability and the quality of life of patients.
authors.affiliation: Elderly Care Unit, Southampton General Hospital.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Philp
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004739:England; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006292:Health Priorities / Q000639:trends*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000639:trends; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000639:trends; D011788:Quality of Life; D013222:State Medicine / Q000639:trends