A measuring instrument for evaluation of quality systems

Objective. To develop an instrument for provider organizations, consumers, purchasers, and policy makers to measure and compare the development of qua lity systems in provider organizations. Design. Cross-sectional study of provider organizations using a structured questionnaire to sun ey managers. Setting. The Netherlands. Study participants. Provider organizations of six health care fields: prima ry health care, care for the disabled, mental health care, care for the eld erly hospital care and welfare care. Main measures. Existence of quality assurance and quality improvement activ ities. Results. The study presents a sun ey instrument for assessing the quality a ssurance and improvement activities of health care provider organizations a nd the developmental stage of quality systems. The survey instrument distin guishes five focal areas for quality improvement activities and four develo pmental stages. The study also reports data on the reliability and validity of the survey instrument. Conclusion. The instrument is reliable, easy to administer, and useful acro ss health care fields as well as different kinds of organizations. Developi ng quality systems provide a common language across all parts of the health care sector. By assigning the activities to focal areas and developmental stages the instrument gives insight into the implementation of quality syst ems in health care. Comparable information on quality assurance activities increases the accountability of providers. Because of the efficient (not ti me consuming) approach, the instrument complements existing accreditation r eviews.