Adjustment of nursing home quality indicators.
BACKGROUND
This manuscript describes a method for adjustment of nursing home quality indicators (QIs) defined using the Center for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) nursing home resident assessment system, the Minimum Data Set (MDS). QIs are intended to characterize quality of care delivered in a facility. Threats to the validity of the measurement of presumed quality of care include baseline resident health and functional status, pattern of comorbidities, and facility case mix. The goal of obtaining a valid facility-level estimate of true quality of care should include adjustment for resident- and facility-level sources of variability.


METHODS
We present a practical and efficient method to achieve risk adjustment using restriction and indirect and direct standardization. We present information on validity by comparing QIs estimated with the new algorithm to one currently used by CMS.


RESULTS
More than half of the new QIs achieved a "Moderate" validation level.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the comprehensive approach and the positive findings to date, research using the new quality indicators is warranted to provide further evidence of their validity and utility and to encourage their use in quality improvement activities.
Jones
Richard N
RN
Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston MA, USA. jones@hrca.harvard.edu
Hirdes
John P
JP
Poss
Jeffrey W
JW
Kelly
Maureen
M
Berg
Katharine
K
Fries
Brant E
BE
Morris
John N
JN
D019985:Benchmarking / Q000592:standards; D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D020379:Risk Adjustment / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States
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