title: Defining and assessing quality improvement outcomes: a framework for public health.
abstract: We describe an evidence-based framework to define and assess the impact of quality improvement (QI) in public health. Developed to address programmatic and research-identified needs for articulating the value of public health QI in aggregate, this framework proposes a standardized set of measures to monitor and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public health programs and operations. We reviewed the scientific literature and analyzed QI initiatives implemented through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Public Health Improvement Initiative to inform the selection of 5 efficiency and 8 effectiveness measures. This framework provides a model for identifying the types of improvement outcomes targeted by public health QI efforts and a means to understand QI's impact on the practice of public health.
authors.affiliation: Anita W. McLees, Craig Thomas, and Andrea Young are with the Division of Public Health Performance Improvement, Office for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. Saira Nawaz is with Carter Consulting, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Anita W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: McLees
authors.forename: Saira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nawaz
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006801:Humans; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011635:Public Health Administration; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013597:Systems Analysis; D014481:United States