Full Answer Section

• Balancing measures: These evaluate the unintended consequences of interventions, such as adverse events or increased costs.

Accessing Outcome Measures

To access relevant outcome measures, you can:

• Consult national databases: Organizations like the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provide extensive databases of quality indicators.
• Review professional guidelines: Professional organizations, such as the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the Joint Commission, develop guidelines that include recommended outcome measures.
• Analyze internal data: Your organization’s electronic health records (EHRs) and quality improvement databases can provide valuable data for measuring outcomes.

Identifying Relevant Outcome Measures

When identifying relevant outcome measures, consider the following factors:

• Nature of the problem: What is the specific safety or quality issue you are addressing?
• Target population: Who are the patients or populations affected by the problem?
• Desired outcomes: What are the desired outcomes of interventions to address the problem?

Describing Outcome Measures

When describing outcome measures, be sure to include the following information:

• Measure name: What is the specific name of the measure?
• Definition: How is the measure defined?
• Data source: Where is the data for the measure collected?
• Calculation method: How is the measure calculated?
• Units of measurement: What are the units used to express the measure (e.g., percentage, rate, ratio)?

Example:

• Measure name: Hospital-acquired infection rate
• Definition: The number of infections acquired in the hospital setting per 1,000 patient days.
• Data source: Electronic health records
• Calculation method: Number of hospital-acquired infections / Total patient days
• Units of measurement: Infections per 1,000 patient days

By understanding and utilizing outcome measures, nurse leaders can effectively monitor the quality of care, identify areas for improvement, and ensure the safety of patients.