title: Developing an institute of medicine-aligned framework for categorizing primary care indicators for quality assessment.
abstract: The Institute of Medicine (IOM) framework has been used frequently to assess and monitor quality in secondary and tertiary care, but not in primary care. This article describes and proposes a conceptual framework for categorizing primary care indicators that align with the IOM's six aims for quality in healthcare performance (Safe, Effective, Patient-Centred, Timely, Efficient and Equitable.) Using an iterative process, the authors developed and compared a primary care framework for categorizing indicators in the Quality in Family Practice Book of Tools (QBT) with the IOM aims and other local healthcare systems frameworks (Integrated and Continuous, Appropriate Practice Resources). They also compared, cross-matched and analyzed their QBT categories and indicators with other international primary care assessment tools. And they compared the QBT titles and descriptions of groups of indicators with those published in the international tools.
authors.affiliation: Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario. She co-authored the Quality in Family Practice Book of Tools with Linda Hilts. She can be contacted at 905-525-9140, ext. 28500.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Levitt
authors.affiliation: Bachelor of health sciences student and was a summer student in the Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University when this manuscript was written.
authors.forename: Xingchen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Consultant in quality improvement to the Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University. She co-authored the Quality in Family Practice Book of Tools with Cheryl Levitt.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hilts
authors.affiliation: Associate professor and research director in the Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dolovich
authors.affiliation: Professor and chair of the Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Price
authors.affiliation: Assistant professor (part-time) in the Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University.
authors.forename: Kalpana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nair
mesh_terms: D015969:National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, U.S., Health and Medicine Division; D009864:Ontario; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D014481:United States