title: Outcome science in practice: an overview and initial experience at the Vanderbilt Spine Center.
abstract: In terms of policy, research, quality improvement, and practice-based learning, there are essential principles--namely, quality, effectiveness, and value of care--needed to navigate changes in the current and future US health care environment. Patient-centered outcome measurement lies at the core of all 3 principles. Multiple measures of disease-specific disability, generic health-related quality of life, and preference-based health state have been introduced to quantify disease impact and define effectiveness of care. This paper reviews the basic principles of patient outcome measurement and commonly used outcome instruments. The authors provide examples of how utilization of outcome measurement tools in everyday neurosurgical practice can facilitate practice-based learning, quality improvement, and real-world comparative effectiveness research, as well as promote the value of neurosurgical care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA. matt.mcgirt@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McGirt
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Speroff
authors.forename: Saniya Siraj
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Godil
authors.forename: Joseph S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Nathan R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Selden
authors.forename: Anthony L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Asher
mesh_terms: D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000628:therapy*