Clinical performance measurement: part 1--getting the best out of it

Abstract

The case for universal measurement of clinical performance now seems unanswerable1. However, as a recent OECD conference has highlighted, the obstacles to implementing an efficient and effective system of performance measurement are formidable2. To get the most out of performance measurement, certain design issues need to be addressed. In this paper we consider two aspects of design: what should a clinical performance measurement system seek to measure? And how should we measure it? In the second and concluding part, we shall look at the pitfalls and how to avoid them.