title: Important considerations in using indicators to profile providers.
abstract: The demand is accelerating for information about the clinical performance of providers. In the more competitive and value-sensitive marketplace that is already developing, purchasers (consumers, employers, and insurers) of health care services will require more information to better assess the relative value of providers' (professional and hospital) services. The cornerstone of a wise, value-based strategy in selecting health care services is careful assessment of each provider's performance based on detailed, quantitative data in the form of clinical indicators. The use of indicators to profile the comparative performances of providers allows purchasers to compare as well as to influence provider performance.
authors.affiliation: CIGNA Healthcare of Illinois, Des Plaines, USA.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Balsamo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pine
mesh_terms: D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D010820:Physicians / Q000592:standards*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D014481:United States