Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 11, 2026
Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
Identification of Quality Indicators Used to Monitor, Evaluate and Improve Rural and Remote Care for Older People: A
Jenni Suen1, Rangika L Fernando1,2, Maria C Inacio2,3
1College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Rehabilitation, Aged and Extended Care, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
Objective:
Quality indicators (QIs) specific to older adults receiving health care in rural and remote settings can be used to monitor healthcare quality, inform service improvements, and outcomes for these populations. This scoping review aimed to identify population-based QIs used to evaluate healthcare quality received by older people in rural and remote settings.
Methods:
Two academic databases and grey literature sources were searched to identify population-based rural QI monitoring programs or rural QIs, routinely used and reported since 2012. QI program and specific characteristics, including country of origin, dimension of care quality captured, domain represented, QI type, data sources used, reporting strategies, and care settings were summarised.
Findings:
Nine QI programs from seven countries with 52 QIs were identified. The QIs measured quality-of-service delivery (n = 28, 54%), accessibility (n = 11, 21%), resources (n = 9, 17%), and hospital readmissions (n = 4, 8%). Most QIs were outcome (n = 25, 48%) or process (n = 19, 37%) indicators, considering the dimension of safe healthcare. Three QIs (6%) measured rural hospital readmission in older people residing in rural areas.
Conclusions:
Three QIs measuring the proportion of older adults with unplanned rural hospital readmission were identified that could facilitate consistent reporting and benchmarking of care provided to older adults residing in rural and remote communities. Given the known disparities in equitable access and quality of healthcare for older people residing in rural and remote areas, these findings highlight the need for QIs across all quality dimensions to monitor healthcare quality and drive improvements in access and quality of healthcare.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
01:15Nursing Evaluation
01:30Current Trends in Nursing II
01:28Current Trends in Nursing I
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:11Guidelines for Writing Outcome
Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care...