Critical measures of success: A tool for organizational effectiveness, communication, and continuous improvement in home health care

Abstract

Being measured makes people very uncomfortable. It creates a high degree of anxiety, fear, and apprehension. On the other hand, people almost always improve their performance in areas where they are specifically and regularly measured. This article describes how home health care agencies can use critical measures of success, key quantitative indicators of the perform ance of the organization, to increase organizational effectiveness, ease communication, and im prove quality. The article describes two points of focus for a home health care agency, five areas of measurement, and six strategies for success. The authors, two of America's leading home health care strategists, provide insights into how to make measurement an effective tool in the long-term survival and success of your home health agency. Key words: continuous quality improvement, home health care, measurement, organizational effectiveness, performance, to tal quality