title: Capturing error rates and reporting significant data.
abstract: Programs that embrace sound outcomes, process, and structure assessment complemented by systematic inquiry and improvement serve as protectors of quality during an era of dramatic cost reduction. Outcome data presented alongside process and structural methods enable a clear understanding of quality, balancing the scales between societal cost and individual health. The ability to change a system through the generation and use of powerful data reporting mechanisms takes on increased significance as we strive to improve the safety of US health care. The NQF's work is just the tip of the iceberg; health care organizations must accept the inevitable: Practice standardization and delineation of concrete, nationwide quality benchmarks are the future of US health care.
authors.affiliation: Anne.Wojner@health-outcomes-institute.com
authors.forename: Anne W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Wojner
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking; D003625:Data Collection; D004282:Documentation; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States