OUTCOMES ACROSS THE CARE CONTINUUM - HOME HEALTH-CARE

OBJECTIVES. This article describes one approach to measuring outcomes across the continuum of care. METHODS. Development and testing of the outcome-based quality-improvement methodology as developed by the Univ ersity of Colorado Center for Health Services Research in Denver, Colo rado are summarized. RESULTS. Reliable and valid measures for home hea lth care covering end results (pure outcome), intermediate results (in strumental outcome), and use (proxy outcome) were developed and are us eful in demonstrating patient improvement or stabilization as well as decline. Further, these measures can be aggregated by agency and, with appropriate severity or risk adjustment, can be used to compare outco mes over time and across agencies. CONCLUSIONS. National testing of th e methodology is currently ongoing, with refinements underway in measu res, risk adjustment, and operational implementation.