Developing an orthopaedic outcomes program

Over the past several years there has been an increased effort to document outcomes, especially in the area of orthopaedics. Outcomes research is important because it can quantitatively and qualitatively demonstrate changes in a patient's condition, provide validation of clinical procedures, and impact upon patient satisfaction. Outcomes research is similar to traditional research in that it looks at a group of patients or a patient care process and focuses on the outcomes of treatment or care. An outcomes program is the infrastructure necessary to collect and analyze outcomes data within a scientifically sound framework. The steps of developing an outcomes program include identifying key players in the process, identifying the diagnoses and procedures to track in the program, deciding outcomes to measure, identifying instruments to be used, developing the data collection process, establishing a timeline, and developing the data entry and analysis process. A successful outcomes program is the product of a collaborative team effort. With knowledge of the necessary components and effective teamwork, it is relatively simple to establish a successful outcomes program.