MEASURING QUALITY OF CARE IN NEUROLOGY

Neurologists are being asked to incorporate methods into daily practic e that measure quality of care, Standards of care are increasingly bei ng defined using evidence-based assessments of neurological literature , To evaluate quality of care, a widely accepted and useful model cons iders the structure, process, and outcomes of care. Outcomes, the impa ct of care on patients' health, should include measures of mortality, morbidity, disability, patient functioning and well-being (health-rela ted quality of life), and patient satisfaction with care. A variety of private organizations and government programs exist to encourage docu mentation and promotion of high quality of care. This explosion in dua lity information is not yet standardized, so that much confusion exist s about appropriate data elements to be measured. The challenge is to collect, summarize, and disseminate practical data useful to neurologi sts and the purchasers and consumers of our services.