Excellence is a necessity, not a luxury.

摘要: THE CENTRAL THEME in both feature articles this issue is the need to embrace measurements healthcare industry. This supports not only my personal belief as a physician and leader but also philosophy of entire CHRISTUS Health system: if you cannot measure it, should do it. We believe that will never know achieved your goal, hold anyone accountable for task, be energized by knowing did, fact, cross finish line. Healthcare complex, so energy received from celebrating incremental victories essential continue on journey excellence. IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING QUALITY MEASUREMENT Although multiple reasons supporting quality care are well articulated articles, primary reason must excellence can benchmark, best-practice processes implemented evidence-based outcomes achieved. Ultimately, leaders firmly that-for all patients families who enter our doors-excellence luxury, necessity. commitment measurement, which major driver excellence, constant complete we always remember millions people doors clinics, hospitals, outpatient procedure centers each day United States trust us, providers, enough surrender their lives or loved ones us. What an awesome responsibility have! Measuring way fulfill prove us justified. It clear, somewhat contrary statement summary article Patrice Spath, value performance data question. question outdated data, inconsistent inaccessible clearly illustrated, referenced, discussed. If physicians, nurses, other providers were completely honest, they would admit using treatment protocols best ensure positive outcome every patient. All clinicians when consistency applied process. They depend review accurate diagnostic including radiology laboratory results. And finally, achieve consistently excellent constantly compare those peers. Is common thread three these truths recognition success achieving clinical depends intense collection reviews measurements? MUST REMAIN AN ESSENTIAL GOAL appropriately describe many present-day barriers through program Ron Anderson, Ruben Amarasingham, S. Sue Pickens at Parkland & Hospital System delineates what accomplished quest becomes institutional imperative. With such imperative embraced "essential" "luxury," barriers, eradicated, minimized level surmountable. More standardization replace no consistency. Regular replaces spotty reporting. Voluntary transparency mandatory Two-year-old reported governmental Web pages replaced with current health system's page. Mandatory supported while computer-based programs being created, consumer-friendly methodology access interpretation cumbersome sites, often deter high utilization. EXCELLENCE IN ALL AREAS IS NECESSARY AND ATTAINABLE it obvious deal first foremost measurement implementation, one tenets strongly held leadership improvement organization take place several fronts once. …