Quality measurement in diabetes care.
This study aimed to evaluate diabetes quality measurement efforts, assess their strengths and areas for improvement, and identify gaps not adequately addressed by these measures. We conducted an environmental scan of diabetes quality measures, focusing on metrics included in the National Quality Measures Clearinghouse or promulgated by leading measurement organizations. Key informant interviews were also completed with thought leaders who develop, promote, and use quality measures. The environmental scan identified 146 distinct measures spanning 31 clinical processes or outcomes. This suggests a measurement system that is both redundant and inconsistent, with many different measures assessing the same clinical indicators. Interviewees believe that current diabetes measurement efforts are excessively broad and complex and expressed a need for better harmonization of these measures. Several gaps were also found, including a lack of measures focusing on population health, structural elements of health care, and prevention of diabetes.
Jefferson School of Population Health, Thomas Jefferson University, 1015 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Brian F
BF
Leas
Bettina
B
Berman
Kathryn M
KM
Kash
Albert G
AG
Crawford
Richard W
RW
Toner
Neil I
NI
Goldfarb
David B
DB
Nash
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016270:United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; D055815:Young Adult
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008055:Lipids