Spotlight On: Quality Measures

What do quality measures mean for me?

What are quality measures?

While there is no single factor to look at when judging the quality of a hospital, there are many important indicators of the quality of care.

Hospitals vary in level of experience, medical expertise, available technology, support services and treatment options offered. Each one of these factors can affect the quality and outcome of care, particularly in cases of complex or serious disease.

+Learn more about UVA's quality measures

Who defines the quality measures?

A variety of regulatory agencies play a role in defining quality measures for cardiology patients. These include, but are not limited to The Joint Commission, the American College of Cardiology, and the American Heart Association. Hospitals also have their own internal quality offices that may select additional quality measures and third party payers may also define quality measures for hospitals that they work with.

What are examples of common quality measures for heart?

At uvahealth.com, you can find quality indicators for common procedures including angioplasty and carotid endarterectomy, as well as treatment of common conditions such as myocardial infarction (heart attack). Quality indicators for heart procedures include:

•  the number of procedures performed annually

• board certification (training levels) of doctors
• patient outcomes (response to appropriate therapies)
  

Despite caring for complex and high-risk patients, UVA’s reported outcomes reflect a dedication to quality as we have achieved one of the lowest PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) procedural mortalities.

Why should I be concerned with a hospital's quality measures?

Quality may be an indication of care provided. However, a hospital or physician practice may have a higher population of sick patients, which may cause their quality outcomes to look less favorable. Consumers need to be cautious in their assessment of quality measures, to ensure that accurate comparisons are being made.

What questions should I ask my doctor about quality?

Do you participate in a quality improvement program? If so, how do you assess and modify your clinical practice based upon quality indicators?

Before having a particular procedure performed, it’s important to ask a doctor how many procedures he or she performs each year and whether they have board certification.