Vincent Mor1, J Angelelli, D Gifford, J Morris, T Moore. 1. Brown University, Department of Community Health, and Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research Providence, Rhode Island, USA. Vincent_Mor@brown.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Performance measurement and benchmarking are common concerns in the delivery of long term care. It is common to measure the performance of providers and to publicly report these data. This paper examines selected technical challenges facing those who design, implement and disseminate health care quality performance measures. METHOD: Review of the application of measures of performance in the US nursing home sector. RESULTS: Using examples drawn from the skilled nursing home arena, problems ranging from data reliability and validity, the multi-dimensional nature of quality measures and selection bias as well as differential measurement abilities are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Benchmarking of performance is an inherently complex issue. However, to ensure that such comparisons are both fair and valid requires measures to be more technically sophisticated and sensitive to real changes attributable to changes in care. Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
BACKGROUND: Performance measurement and benchmarking are common concerns in the delivery of long term care. It is common to measure the performance of providers and to publicly report these data. This paper examines selected technical challenges facing those who design, implement and disseminate health care quality performance measures. METHOD: Review of the application of measures of performance in the US nursing home sector. RESULTS: Using examples drawn from the skilled nursing home arena, problems ranging from data reliability and validity, the multi-dimensional nature of quality measures and selection bias as well as differential measurement abilities are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Benchmarking of performance is an inherently complex issue. However, to ensure that such comparisons are both fair and valid requires measures to be more technically sophisticated and sensitive to real changes attributable to changes in care. Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Authors: Howard B Degenholtz; Rosalie A Kane; Robert L Kane; Boris Bershadsky; Kristen C Kling Journal: Health Serv Res Date: 2006-04 Impact factor: 3.402