Understanding Performance Measures
For any healthcare activity, three performance factors can be measured: structure, process, and
outcome. Read the scenario below regarding a registration process and answer the questions that
follow.
Upon arrival for treatment, the patient reports to the hospital registration area. The patient
completes the paperwork, is asked to provide an insurance identification card, if insured, and a copy
is made for their file. Often, patients do register on-line before the date of hospital admission to
facilitate the registration process. After the registration process is complete, an identification
bracelet including the patient’s name and doctor’s name, is placed around the patient’s wrist.
Before any medical care is provided, the patient is asked to sign a consent form agreeing to
treatment.
1. Identify one structure measure, one process measure, and one outcome measure that could be
used to evaluate the above hospital admission process.
2. For each measure you selected to evaluate the hospital admission process, describe the
measure in fundamental terms – i.e. what are the numerator and denominator? If the measure
does not require a numerator and denominator, explain why.
3. Suppose the manager of the hospital registration area wants to gather data to report
performance results for the measures you have chosen. List a data source that you could use to
gather information for your structure measure, your process measure, and your outcome
measure. (should be 3 separate sources ) Why did you select this data source?
