• DOI:10.1186/1472-6963-10-96
• Corpus ID: 16795421

Adjustment of nursing home quality indicators

@article{Jones2010AdjustmentON,
  title={Adjustment of nursing home quality indicators},
  author={Richard N. Jones and John P. Hirdes and Jeffrey W. Poss and Maureen Kelly and Katharine Berg and Brant E. Fries and John N. Morris},
  journal={BMC Health Services Research},
  year={2010},
  volume={10},
  pages={96 - 96}
}

• Richard N. Jones, J. Hirdes, +4 authors J. Morris
• Published 15 April 2010
• Medicine, Psychology
• BMC Health Services Research

BackgroundThis manuscript describes a method for adjustment of nursing home quality indicators (QIs) defined using the Center for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) nursing home resident assessment system, the Minimum Data Set (MDS). QIs are intended to characterize quality of care delivered in a facility. Threats to the validity of the measurement of presumed quality of care include baseline resident health and functional status, pattern of comorbidities, and facility case mix. The goal of obtaining a valid facility-level estimate of true quality of care should include adjustment for resident- and facility-level sources of variability.MethodsWe present a practical and efficient method to achieve risk adjustment using restriction and indirect and direct standardization. We present information on validity by comparing QIs estimated with the new algorithm to one currently used by CMS.ResultsMore than half of the new QIs achieved a "Moderate" validation level.ConclusionsGiven the comprehensive approach and the positive findings to date, research using the new quality indicators is warranted to provide further evidence of their validity and utility and to encourage their use in quality improvement activities.