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Review
. 2015 Mar;2(1):7-11.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijpam.2015.03.003. Epub 2015 Mar 27.

How (and why) do quality improvement professionals measure performance?

Donald E Lighter  1
Affiliations
Review

How (and why) do quality improvement professionals measure performance?

Donald E Lighter. Int J Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2015 Mar.

Abstract

The era of value-based care has engulfed healthcare delivery systems around the world. Pediatricians are especially challenged by constrained resources for providing care to our vulnerable population, and methods for achieving value for children through improved quality and reduced cost of care are crucial for success. This paper examines the use of measures to determine the two components of the value proposition: quality and cost. The implications for adopting Lean Six Sigma as an improvement paradigm are reviewed, and the case for using these concepts is detailed with examples of measures used in health systems in the United States and several other countries.

Keywords: Measurement; Medicare; Payment; Performance improvement; Quality improvement; Shared savings.

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Figures

Figure. 1
Figure. 1
The Donabedian model.
Figure. 2
Figure. 2
SMART Criteria.
Figure. 3
Figure. 3
Shared savings scenario.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Lighter Donald E. The application of Lean Six Sigma to provide high-quality, reliable pediatric care. IJPAM. 2014;1(1):8–10.
    1. Donabedian A. Health Administration Press; Ann Arbor, MI: 1980. Explorations in quality assessment and monitoring: the definition of quality and approaches to its assessment.
    1. National Quality Forum, [accessed October, 2014] at http://www.qualityforum.org.
    1. Damberg CL, Sorbero ME, Lovejoy SL, Martsolf G, Raaen L, Mandel D. Measuring success in health care value-based purchasing programs: findings from an environmental scan, literature review, and expert panel discussions, Rand Corporation, [accessed October 2014] at http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/2014/HealthCarePurchasing/rpt_vbp_fin.... - PMC - PubMed