Death By 1000 Metrics

“I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about and express it in numbers you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind.” – Lord Kelvin

In this episode, Christian, Rana, Carl and Michelle delve into quality measures and metrics within emergency medicine. They explore the origins and historical context of these measures, touching on key figures like John Snow and Florence Nightingale, and contemporary frameworks such as the Donabedian model.

The physicians talk about the evolution of metrics from voluntary reporting to mandatory quality measurement tied to payments, highlighting significant legislation like the Affordable Care Act and MACRA (Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act). The conversation also addresses the nuances of implementing and updating quality measures as well as reaching a balance between process and outcome metrics.

Michelle shares insights from her research and experiences in developing and applying quality measures – emphasising the tension between the benefits and challenges of using metrics in emergency medicine – and explores potential improvements for quality measures for the future.

Doctor Friends should not be used in place of professional medical advice. The opinions of the participants are their own and do not represent the institutions that they work for.

Presented by Christian, Rana, Carl and Michelle. Music by Nylonia. Produced by Ilia Rogatchevski.

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