PRIORITIZING PERFORMANCE-MEASURES FOR GERIATRIC MEDICAL-SERVICES - WHAT DO THE PURCHASERS AND PROVIDERS THINK

We sought the views of purchasers and provider managers in the South a nd West Region on the relative priorities of 15 possible performance m easures of-a geriatric medical service. Using a postal questionnaire, subjects were asked to rank the measures in order of priority. Improvi ng patients' quality of life was judged the most-important measure by all groups except for the purchasing chief-executives, who placed it s econd to improving patients' physical function (which was overall the second most important measure). The lowest priority was given to measu rement of levels of activity and reducing mortality rates. Priorities were similar to those found with patients and geriatricians in a previ ous study, and supports the development and use of performance measure s of disability and the quality of life of patients.