Performance Indicators
Health Policy 80 (2007) 314–327
Panning for gold: An evidence-based tool for assessment of performance indicators in primary health care
Roshan Perera a,∗ , Tony Dowell a , Peter Crampton b , Robin Kearns c b Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 7343 Wellington, New Zealand Department of Public Health, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand c School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
a
Abstract It is important that debate occurs between theorists, policy makers, clinicians and service end-users to develop agreement over suitable and appropriate indicators for primary health care. A formal accounting of the relative strengths and weaknesses of any proposed indicator will enable sector commentators from a variety of viewpoints to discuss the relative merits of individual indicators, to understand the political and pragmatic reasons for their inclusion in any set of indicators and to trace the likely organisational impact of any given indicator. This paper details the development of an indicator appraisal tool that combines the assessment of scientific evidence with contextual considerations from the perspective of both the policy environment and the primary health care sector. The use of the tool is discussed in the context of the proposed national implementation of a set of performance indicators in New Zealand. © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Performance indicators; Primary health care; Health services research
1. Introduction The past several decades have seen considerable effort directed towards improving systems of accountability and quality within health care systems within a number of countries. More recently increased emphasis on primary health care funding and service delivery have produced a greater focus on
Panning for gold: An evidence-based tool for assessment of performance indicators in primary health care
Roshan Perera a,∗ , Tony Dowell a , Peter Crampton b , Robin Kearns c b Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 7343 Wellington, New Zealand Department of Public Health, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand c School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
a
Abstract It is important that debate occurs between theorists, policy makers, clinicians and service end-users to develop agreement over suitable and appropriate indicators for primary health care. A formal accounting of the relative strengths and weaknesses of any proposed indicator will enable sector commentators from a variety of viewpoints to discuss the relative merits of individual indicators, to understand the political and pragmatic reasons for their inclusion in any set of indicators and to trace the likely organisational impact of any given indicator. This paper details the development of an indicator appraisal tool that combines the assessment of scientific evidence with contextual considerations from the perspective of both the policy environment and the primary health care sector. The use of the tool is discussed in the context of the proposed national implementation of a set of performance indicators in New Zealand. © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Performance indicators; Primary health care; Health services research
1. Introduction The past several decades have seen considerable effort directed towards improving systems of accountability and quality within health care systems within a number of countries. More recently increased emphasis on primary health care funding and service delivery have produced a greater focus on