title: A tool for evaluating the potential for cost-effective outcomes measurement.
abstract: Cost related to higher-level outcomes measurement is often very high. However, the cost burden is felt even more by smaller, less well-funded continuing medical education (CME) programs. It is possible to overcome financial and participant-related barriers to measuring Level 6 outcomes, which are patient health outcomes. The Temple University School of Medicine's Office for Continuing Medical Education developed a sequential tool for attaining cost-effective outcomes measurement for determining the likelihood of a CME intervention to produce significant changes in physician performance. The appropriate selection of the CME topic and specific practice change indictors drive this tool. This tool walks providers through a simple YES or NO decision-making list that guides them toward an accurate prediction of potential programmatic outcomes. Factors considered during the decision-making process include whether: (a) the intended change(s) will have a substantial impact on current practice; (b) the intended practice change(s) are well supported by clinical data, specialty organization/government recommendations, expert opinion, etc; (c) the potential change(s) affects a large population; (d) external factors, such as system pressures, media pressures, financial pressures, patient pressures, safety pressures, etc, are driving this intended change in performance; (e) there is a strong motivation on the part of physicians to implement the intended change(s); and (f) the intended change(s) is relatively easy to implement within any system of practice. If each of these questions can be responded to positively, there is a higher likelihood that the intended practice-related change(s) will occur. Such change can be measured using a simpler and less costly methodology.
authors.affiliation: The Albert J Finestone, MD, Office for Continuing Medical Education, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Melinda M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Somasekhar
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bove
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rausch
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Degnan
authors.forename: Cathy T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meyer