Introduced in February 1997, The Joint Commission’s ORYX® initiative integrates outcomes and other performance measurement data into the accreditation process. ORYX measurement requirements are intended to support Joint Commission accredited organizations in their quality improvement efforts. Performance measures are essential to the credibility of any modern evaluation activity for health care organizations. They supplement and help guide the standards-based survey process by providing a more targeted basis for the regular accreditation survey, for continuously monitoring actual performance, and for guiding and stimulating continuous improvement in health care organizations. Some accredited organizations are required to submit performance measurement data on a specified minimum number of measure sets or non-core measures, as appropriate, to The Joint Commission through a Joint Commission listed ORYX vendors (also known as performance measurement systems). Data collected or submitted to The Joint Commission is reviewed during the on-site survey. For more information about organization-specific ORYX requirements, see the appropriate fact sheet:
For printed copies, call the Department of Communications at (630) 792-5631.
Standardized core measures
On July 1, 2002, accredited hospitals began collecting data on standardized—or “core”—performance measures. In September 2004, The Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that they are working together to precisely align current and future measures common to both organizations. These standardized common measures are referred to as National Hospital Quality Measures. These measures are integral to improving the quality of care provided to hospital patients and bring value to stakeholders by focusing on the actual results of care. Measure alignment benefits hospitals by making it easier and less costly to collect and report data because the same data set can be used to satisfy both CMS and Joint Commission requirements. In 2004, National Hospital Quality Measures and other core measure data were integrated into the priority focus process that is used by The Joint Commission to help focus on-site survey evaluation activities. These data are also publicly reported on The Joint Commission website at Quality Check®, www.qualitycheck.org. The public availability of performance measurement data permits user comparisons of hospital performance at the state and national levels.
For more information
Call the ORYX Information Line at (630) 792-5085 or submit questions to oryx@jointcommission.org.
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