title: An evidence-based framework to measure quality of allied health care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is no standard way of describing the complexities of allied health (AH) care, or its quality. AH is an umbrella term which excludes medicine and nursing, and variably includes disciplines which provide therapy, diagnostic, or scientific services. This paper outlines a framework for a standard approach to evaluate the quality of AH therapy services.
  
  
  METHODS
  A realist synthesis framework describing what AH does, how it does it, and what is achieved, was developed. This was populated by the findings of a systematic review of literature published since 1980 reporting concepts of quality relevant to AH. Articles were included on quality measurement concepts, theories, debates, and/or hypothetical frameworks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 139 included articles, 21 reported on descriptions of quality potentially relevant to AH. From these, 24 measures of quality were identified, with 15 potentially relating to what AH does, 17 to how AH delivers care, 8 relating to short term functional outcomes, and 9 relating to longer term functional and health system outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A novel evidence-based quality framework was proposed to address the complexity of AH therapies. This should assist in better evaluation of AH processes and outcomes, costs, and evidence-based engagement of AH providers in healthcare teams.
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Allied Health Evidence, The University of South Australia, City East Campus, Adelaide 5000, Australia. karen.grimmer@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grimmer
authors.forename: Lucylynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lizarondo
authors.forename: Saravana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buist
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weinstein
mesh_terms: D016390:Allied Health Occupations / Q000592:standards*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*