The use of utilization review records as a source of data on nursing home care.

Data form the Utah nursing home Utilization Review Program, 1970-73, provide a description of the population of nursing home patients in Utah and changes over time in patient medication and measures of activity. These data are analyzed according to type of care in home: personal, intermediate, or comprehensive. The collection of data in utilization review programs can help to evaluate the quality of care as well as appropriateness of placement, provided the information collected is designed with these ends in mind.