Measuring Quality
Quality data come in many forms. Information can be pulled from
clinical records, billing information or administrative codes that are
used to classify diagnoses and conditions. The data is run through
complex math models to try and make it meaningful.
Because quality data are pulled from multiple sources, documentation
plays a crucial role in measurement. When treating a patient, a
practitioner needs to accurately and consistently report the specific
diagnosis and document the treatment that the patient receives. If the
practitioner makes an error in the documentation process, it can have
a negative effect on the hospital's rating—even if the patient's
clinical outcome is optimal. Stanford Health Care has implemented a
state-of-the-art electronic documentation system and trained our
health care practitioners to ensure that documentation is accurate and
specific. Accurate documentation helps to limit reporting errors, so
our clinical and administrative staff can better identify true
clinical improvement opportunities.
Factors that affect quality
The number of patients a hospital treats for a condition or
procedure and the severity of a patient's illness when they check into
a hospital are two factors that can affect a hospital's quality
rating. Some evidence suggests that the quality of care for patients
with certain conditions or procedures is related to the number of
patients treated at that hospital for those conditions or procedures,
especially if the procedure is risky or extremely difficult.
The severity of a patient's illness is also a key factor in
measuring the quality of care at a hospital. A standard measure to
compare patients' severity of illness between hospitals is called the
Case Mix Index (CMI). Hospitals with a high CMI treat a greater number
of severely ill patients, which impacts overall clinical outcomes.
Stanford Health Care has one of the highest CMIs in the country
because we specialize in caring for complex diseases and conditions.
Despite our high CMI, we maintain very positive outcomes, even when
compared to hospitals that treat patients with illnesses that are less severe.