Ambulatory encounter systems: implications for payment and quality

Many key decision makers are looking to AESs solely for purposes of payment. This approach is unfortunate because many systems could be utilized for both payment and quality management purposes. It is important that the professional quality of care community be aggressive and document, through research and practical demonstration projects, how AESs can be used for both purposes. It is only in this manner that resource consumption can be both accurately analyzed and related to quality improvement.