KNOWLEDGE COUPLING - IMPLEMENTING OUTCOMES MEASUREMENT THROUGH THE DISCIPLINED AND ROUTINE CONTROL OF INPUTS

The successful implementation of outcomes measurement is jeopardized b y its application within systems that do not control inputs. This syst emic flaw within health care can be corrected by placing critical know ledge that is now in the minds of individual practitioners into comput er-based knowledge coupling tools that can (1) track and control the i nputs to the system in a disciplined and routine manner and (2) proces s information without error or bias. Outcomes then become a natural by -product of what amounts to a paradigm shift in the conceptualization and implementation of health care.