Quality assessment by external bodies: intended and unintended impact on healthcare delivery

External quality assessment programs in the form of pay for performance, report cards and national rankings are rapidly overtaking more traditional, internal quality assessment efforts and external clinical practice guidelines. Although such initiatives are designed to improve healthcare quality by promoting competition and increasing transparency, review of their efficacy and unintended effects is just coming to the national spotlight.

Critical evaluation of external quality assessment programs remains limited despite their scope, speed and breadth of implementation. Recent publications, however, suggest that external quality assessment efforts may have major unintended consequences. These include effects on patient decision-making, the 'dynamic equilibrium' of patient care, healthcare disparities, medical innovation and practice patterns.

In their early years of implementation, external quality assessment programs have already had significant consequences in the healthcare system. As new tools become available, their full impact on care and caregivers must be thoroughly evaluated. Careful consideration of clinical practice implications and an understanding of the risks are critical before accepting and implementing new assessment paradigms. The substantial and widespread effects of these programs should prompt further evaluation from the medical community.