Comparison of clinical indicators for performance measurement of health care quality: a cautionary note

The use of clinical performance data is increasing rapidly. Yet, substantial variation exists across indicators designed to measure the same clinical event. We compared indicators from several indicator measurement systems to determine the consistency of results. Five measurement systems with well-defined indicators were selected. They were applied to 24 hospitals. Indicators for mortality from coronary artery bypass graft surgery and mortality in the perioperative period were chosen from these measurement systems. Analyses results and concludes that it is faulty to assume that clinical indicators derived from different measurement systems will give the same rank order. Widespread demand for external release of outcome data from hospitals must be balanced by an educational effort about the factors that influence and potentially confound reported rates.