How Registries Can Help Performance Measurement Improve Care

Suggests ways to better utilize databases of clinical information to evaluate care processes and outcomes and improve measurements of healthcare quality and costs, comparative clinical effectiveness research, and medical product safety surveillance

Improving Performance in Practice: Rx for Primary Care

Summarizes the structure of a state-based, RWJF-funded program designed to help small primary care practices improve performance in diabetes or asthma care through measurement, reporting, and analysis. Presents early outcomes and lessons learned

Implementing Patient-Centered Medical Home Pilot Projects: Lessons From AF4Q Communities

Shares lessons from Aligning Forces for Quality communities on creating medical homes to improve access to care, communication, and care coordination. Discusses program design, recruiting, standards, financing, technology, measurement, and culture change

Enhancing the Capacity of Community Health Centers to Achieve High Performance

Based on a survey of community health centers, assesses access to care, care coordination, quality improvement efforts, health information technology adoption, and ability to serve as patient-centered medical homes. Suggests policy to strengthen clinics

HealthPartners: Consumer-Focused Mission and Collaborative Approach Support Ambitious Performance Improvement Agenda

Presents a case study of a nonprofit healthcare organization that exhibits the six attributes of an ideal healthcare delivery system as defined by the Fund, including information continuity, care coordination and transitions, and system accountability

Childhood Obesity: The Role of Health Policy

This first policy report from the CPRC and the NICHQ Childhood Obesity Action Network was released on March 18, 2008 in Miami Florida as part of the Second Childhood Obesity Congress

Building Medical Homes: Lessons From Eight States With Emerging Programs

Profiles states' progress in developing and implementing medical home programs, strategies to encourage primary care providers' adoption, and states' ability to convene stakeholders, help improve and evaluate performance, and address antitrust concerns

Strengthening Primary and Chronic Care: State Innovations to Transform and Link Small Practices

Presents case studies of state policies for reorganizing and improving primary and chronic care delivery among small practices, including leadership and convening, payment incentives, infrastructure support, feedback and monitoring, and certification

Dimensions of Quality and Their Increasing Relevance for Visceral Medicine in Germany

Background: ‘Quality in medicine' is a term used in a broad sense. In this work the definition and dimensions of quality in medicine and the implementation of a measurement and reporting system in Germany are discussed. Existing applications are described and possible future effects are pointed out. Methods: The ongoing process of implementing a quality reporting system into the German healthcare system is studied by publicly available legal texts, published reactions of stakeholders and publications of G-BA and IQTIG. Definitions of quality, dimensions of quality and quality measurement in medicine are studied by using textbooks as well as the world wide web and PubMed search. Results: Donabedian‘s ‘dimensions of quality' are fundamental in dealing with quality in medicine. Existing measurement and reporting systems have immanent strengths and weaknesses, as the definition of quality is affected by one‘s point of view. The legislator will have to decide which ‘dimension of quality' is mandatory and how to measure it. Conclusion: Quality has become a control instrument with unforeseeable consequences. A clear definition of the used quality concept is as essential as the use of feasible measurement and reporting systems. The use of routine data could be an interesting option