Document Detail


Benchmarking patient outcomes.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  11419316     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
PURPOSE: To examine the usefulness of three types of benchmarking for interpreting patient outcome data. DESIGN: This study was part of a multiyear, multihospital longitudinal survey of 10 patient outcomes. The patient outcome used for this methodologic presentation was central line infections (CLI). The sample included eight hospitals in an integrated healthcare system, with a range in size from 144 to 861 beds. The unit of analysis for CLI was the number of line days, with the CLI rate defined as the number of infections per 1,000 patient-line days per month. METHODS: Data on each outcome were collected at the unit level according to standardized protocols. Results were submitted via standardized electronic forms to a central data management center. Data for this presentation were analyzed using a Bayesian hierarchical Poisson model. Results are presented for each hospital and the system as a whole. FINDINGS: In comparison to published benchmarks, hospital performances were mixed with regard to CLI. Five of the 8 hospitals exceeded 2.2 infections per 1,000 patient-line days. When benchmarks were established for each hospital using 95% credible intervals, hospitals did reasonably well with only isolated months reaching or going beyond the benchmark limits. When the entire system was used to establish benchmarks with the 95% credible intervals, the hospitals that reached or exceeded the benchmark limits remained the same, but some hospitals had CLI rates more frequently in the upper 50% of the benchmarking limits. CONCLUSIONS: Benchmarking of quality indicators can be accomplished in a variety of ways as a means to quantify patient care and identify areas needing attention and improvement. Hospital-specific and system-wide benchmarks provide relevant feedback for improving performance at individual hospitals.
Authors:
E B Rudy; J F Lucke; G R Whitman; L J Davidson
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Validation Studies    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing / Sigma Theta Tau     Volume:  33     ISSN:  1527-6546     ISO Abbreviation:  J Nurs Scholarsh     Publication Date:  2001  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2001-06-22     Completed Date:  2001-07-12     Revised Date:  2006-11-07    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100911591     Medline TA:  J Nurs Scholarsh     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  185-9     Citation Subset:  IM; N    
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, 350 Victoria Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. erudy@pitt.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Benchmarking / methods*,  standards
Catheterization, Central Venous / adverse effects*
Cross Infection / epidemiology*,  etiology*
Health Services Research
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Outcome Assessment (Health Care) / organization & administration*
Quality Indicators, Health Care
Quality of Health Care*
Systems Analysis
Total Quality Management
United States

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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