Year(s) Funded: 2015-2016
Topic(s): Quality, Social Determinants of Health
Project Lead: Ira Moscovice
Statement of the Problem: There has been significant discussion lately among researchers and policy‐makers about whether or not to adjust provider quality measures for differences in patient characteristics. Lacking in this discussion, however, is an understanding of how adjustment should be done within a rural context and what impact it might have on patients and providers.
Project Goals: For three acute care conditions/diagnoses (potential examples include diabetes, congestive heart failure, COPD)
- Identify the key socio-demographic variables that may affect quality adjustment for rural populations/providers
- Identify data sources/strategies available for the above variables
- Identify the quality measures (e.g. readmission rates) that should be adjusted for socio-demographic variables for rural populations/providers and estimate the potential impact of those adjustments on quality measurement
Methods: We will use a literature review and an expert panel to identify key socio-demographic variables that may affect quality adjustment for rural populations and providers. Available secondary data sources will be used to estimate the potential impact of socio-demographic adjustment on relevant quality measures.