Implementing successful quality outcome programs in ambulatory care: key questions and recommendations

With recent increasing attention to rising healthcare costs, both public and private sectors are demanding more value from the services and products they purchase. To achieve this goal, programs such as pay-for-performance have been implemented with varying success. One of the reasons behind the failures is the lack of understanding of how standards are received and accepted in the provider community. The purpose of this article is to outline some steps that will facilitate standard development and monitoring, with the aim of improving the actual outcomes themselves.