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 vendors (also known as performance measurement systems). The list has continued to evolve over the years with a variety of vendors participating in the initiative. From this list, organizations select a vendor that best meets their overall measurement needs. As outlined in the ORYX requirements, some organizations seeking accreditation are expected to participate with at least one of these vendors. Specifically, these health care organizations submit their measurement data by way of their selected vendor(s) each quarter to The Joint Commission, which in turn uses these data in the survey and accreditation process.
ORYX vendor evaluation
An ORYX vendor 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 vendors. This framework has evolved over time. It currently incorporates five broad attributes for listed systems, and identifies specific criteria relating to each of them. The attributes are:
- Performance measure characteristics
- Data collection and receipt
- Data quality
- Risk adjustment
- Technical reporting requirements
Additionally, no vendor can be used to meet accreditation requirements until they have signed a contract with The Joint Commission.
For more information
For more information about ORYX, call the ORYX Information Line at (630) 792-5085, visit The Joint Commission Web site or submit questions via http://manual.jointcommission.org/.