title: What quality measurements miss.
abstract: Measurable indices of health care quality are all the rage these days. But physicians know that not everything in health care can be quantified. If reportable numbers become our principal focus, what is in danger of falling through the cracks?
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kassberg
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wynn
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000401:mortality; D003625:Data Collection; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D008484:Medicaid / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000145:classification* / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States