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Realizing the potential of practice pattern profiling
R D Lasker1, D W Shapiro, A M Tucker
1Physician Payment Review Commission, Washington, DC 20037.
Summary
Practice pattern profiling can enhance healthcare quality and performance assessment. Further development in data and infrastructure is crucial for its future potential in health care reform.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Medical Informatics
- Health Services Research
Background:
- The Physician Payment Review Commission convened a conference in January 1992 to discuss the appropriateness and future potential of practice pattern profiling.
- Key areas addressed included data requirements, profile validity, impact on medical practice, and public access controversies.
Framework:
- Profiling serves multiple roles: quality improvement, provider performance assessment, and utilization review.
- The paper reviews fundamental profiling concepts and their practical applications.
- Case studies illustrate challenges encountered in profiling implementation.
Implementation:
- The conference explored the development of valid and relevant practice profiles.
- Discussion covered the impact of profiling on medical practice and associated controversies.
- Current uses and limitations of profiling were examined.
Implications:
- Profiling can significantly contribute to achieving health care reform goals.
- Improving profiling requires advancements in data and infrastructure.
- Enhanced profiling can lead to better quality of care and resource utilization.