The performance measurement standards for Health Care Staffing Services (HCSS) focus on the following:
- Using information garnered from measurement data to improve or validate clinical practice
- Using comparative data to evaluate processes and outcomes
- Evaluating the clients’ perception of quality of care
- Using client-specific, care-related data
- Implementing an organized comprehensive approach to performance improvement
Performance Measurement Requirements
The performance measurement requirements for HCSS certification comprise two stages:
Stage I: Certified HCSS firms are required to collect and analyze data on one or more performance measures related to or identified in practice guidelines for each firm. Measures selected by the HCSS firm should be evidence-based, relevant, valid and reliable. The Joint Commission is not prescriptive during Stage I regarding which specific measures are to be implemented; the emphasis is on the use of performance measures for improving care. The standards require the HCSS firm to demonstrate that it:
- Routinely applies the cycle for performance improvement to identify and address improvement opportunities
- Implements a plan for improvement and graphically depicts measurement results over time to demonstrate improvement in the measured areas
- Reviews the effectiveness of the interventions implemented in response to improvement opportunities identified by the measurement activity
Currently, each HCSS firm is required to submit the description(s) of at least one performance measure at the time it requests certification. The measure(s) must be process or outcome measures. The measure(s) may address clinical, administrative, or customer satisfaction domains. Once certified, each HCSS firm submits data reports and summaries of its performance measurement activities to The Joint Commission at the time of intra-cycle review and recertification.
Stage II: A standardized measure is a performance measure that has precisely defined specifications, standardized data collection protocols, meets established evaluation criteria and can be uniformly adopted for use. Standardized sets of measures are identified and specified by The Joint Commission and external performance measurement experts.
Standardized Performance Measures for HCSS
A candidate set of three draft measures for HCSS were piloted tested for six months, August 1, 2006 – January 31, 2007. Effective January 1, 2008, the final set of standardized measures will be implemented and uniformly adopted by all certified HCSS firms, as well as firms seeking initial HCSS certification.
The following measures are included in the standardized measure set:
- HCSS-1: Do Not Return – Clinical
- HCSS-2: Do Not Return – Professional
- HCSS-3: Completeness of Personnel File
The HCSS Performance Measurement Implementation Guide, 2nd Edition is now available, and details the measure specifications for the HCSS standardized measure set.