Evaluating performance outcomes measurement systems: concerns and considerations.
In today's managed care healthcare environment, there is a need for hospitals and physician groups alike to know the true quality and costs of healthcare services provided to patients. As the movement toward having providers accept risk via financial capitation escalates, quality improvement professionals involved in outcomes management are increasingly being asked to investigate information sources and systems that can prove helpful in managing effectively within these limitations. As a result, there is a high degree of interest in comparative performance outcomes measurement data based on risk-adjusted and severity-adjusted data. This article explains the key features of performance outcomes measurement systems and notes concerns that should be considered when evaluating these software systems for selection.
Micheletti
J A
JA
Micheletti and Associates, Inc., Rockville, MD, USA.
Shlala
T J
TJ
Goodall
C R
CR
D019985:Benchmarking; D002204:Capitation Fee; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D004496:Education, Continuing; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008330:Management Audit / Q000379:methods; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D011216:Practice Management, Medical / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012308:Risk Management; D012984:Software; D014481:United States