The Joint Commission defines a performance measurement system as an entity composed of
- a set of process and/or outcome measures of performance;
- processes for collecting, analyzing and disseminating these measures from multiple organizations; and
- an automated database
that, together, can be used to facilitate performance improvement in health care organizations. A measurement system must be able to generate both internal comparisons of each participating organization’s performance over time, and external comparisons of performance among participating organizations.
Performance measures—quantitative measures used to evaluate and improve outcomes or the performance of functions and processes—are incorporated into The Joint Commission’s accreditation process as part of the ORYX® initiative. The goal of ORYX is to create a more continuous, data-driven, comprehensive and valuable accreditation process—one that not only evaluates a health care organization’s methods of standards compliance, but the outcomes of these methods as well. Performance measures are essential to the credibility of any modern evaluation activity for health care organizations. They supplement and guide the standards-based survey process by providing a more targeted basis for the regular accreditation survey; a basis for continuously monitoring performance; and a basis for guiding and stimulating continuous improvement in health care organizations.
In 1995, The Joint Commission presented to accredited health care organizations an initial list of performance measurement systems, from which they could choose a system or systems to meet the requirements of the initial phase of the ORYX initiative. An organization may select the system(s) that best meets its overall measurement needs. As outlined in the ORYX requirements, some organizations seeking accreditation will be expected to participate in a listed measurement system(s). These health care organizations submit their measurement data through the measurement system(s) at regular intervals to The Joint Commission, which in turn uses these data in the survey and accreditation process.
Performance measurement system evaluation
A measurement system must be evaluated and found to meet all current criteria in order to be listed. The Advisory Council on Performance Measurement, composed of nationally known experts in outcomes measurement and appointed by The Joint Commission’s Board of Commissioners, established the initial evaluation framework and criteria for review of applicant performance measurement systems. The framework currently incorporates five broad attributes for listed systems, and identifies specific criteria relating to each attribute. The attributes are:
- Performance measure characteristics
- Data collection and receipt
- Data quality
- Risk adjustment
- Technical reporting requirements
No system can be used to meet accreditation requirements until the system has signed a contract with The Joint Commission.
For more information
For more information, call the ORYX Information Line at (630) 792-5085, visit www.jointcommission.org or submit questions via e-mail to oryx@jointcommission.org. Other fact sheets are available on the following related topics:
- Facts about ORYX®
- Facts about ORYX for home care organizations
- Facts about ORYX for hospitals
- Facts about ORYX for long term care organizations
- Facts about ORYX for integrated delivery systems, managed care organizations, managed behavioral health care organizations and preferred provider organizations
For copies of these fact sheets, call the Department of Communications at (630) 792-5631 or visit www.jointcommission.org.