Hospitals face a daunting number of clinical performance measurement and reporting requirements with escalating financial and reputational ramifications. MedeAnalytics estimates that hospital are required to track and report  over 400 clinical quality measures. It is not an overstatement to say that how a hospital prepares for and manages its performance in this area may be the greatest determinant of its long-term financial viability.

In June 2010, MedeAnalytics introduced to the market its proprietary Clinical-Financial Performance Management Framework to help hospitals navigate these increasingly challenging waters.

While much attention has rightfully been given to the HITECH Act’s requirements to encourage hospitals to implement and meaningfully use electronic health records and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s various quality reporting provisions, hospitals should not overlook or deemphasize the many previously existing clinical quality measures which are still in effect. The framework provides a comprehensive aggregation and analysis of meaningful use, health reform and other requirements, including the Agency for Health Research & Quality’s Patient Safety and Quality Indicators, the Joint Commission and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Core Measures, the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative implemented by CMS, the Joint Commission’s Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation, the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measures.

By including a crosswalk analysis of all the requirements faced by hospitals as well as information about the nature and potential financial and non-financial risks associated with the requirements, the framework provides a logical, systematic approach to focus attention and resources on meeting the requirements that pose the greatest potential risk for hospitals.

1. PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute, Health Reform: Prospering in a post-reform world, May 2010 .
2. Janet Corrigan, president and CEO of the National Quality Forum, H&HN, June 2010.