New paradigms for measuring clinical performance using electronic health records

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Health Information Technology (HIT)

Background:

• Provider success metrics are crucial for global quality improvement and pay-for-performance initiatives.
• Traditional quality measures rely on administrative data, paper records, and surveys.
• Electronic health records (EHRs) are increasingly integrated into quality measurement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and define electronic quality measures (e-QMs).
• To present a framework or typology for categorizing e-QMs.
• To identify opportunities and challenges in transitioning to e-QMs.

Main Methods:

• The study defines e-QMs as quality measures derived from electronic health records and related health information technology (HIT).
• A framework is proposed to categorize and understand e-QMs.
• Analysis of opportunities and impediments associated with the shift to e-QMs.

Main Results:

• The term 'e-QMs' is established to represent quality measures utilizing electronic health record data.
• A typology for e-QMs is provided.
• Key opportunities and challenges in the adoption of e-QMs are outlined.

Conclusions:

• The effective use of HIT for healthcare quality and safety evaluation necessitates embracing new paradigms in quality measurement.
• Strategic attention to technical, conceptual, and practical challenges is vital for the successful implementation of e-QMs.
• The transition to e-QMs offers a pathway for advancing healthcare quality measurement.