Graphical representation of quality indicators based on medical service ontology

Osamu Takaki,Mitsuru Ikeda,Koichiro Murata,Noriaki Izumi,Koiti Hasida,Koichi Takahashi,Izumi Takeuti

doi:10.1186/2193-1801-2-274

Abstract

For recent years, it has grown importance to evaluate medical service qualities of medical staffs and/or hospitals by using quality indicators. This paper introduces a representation system QI-RS of quality indicators. By using QI-RS, one can define quality indicators that satisfy understandability and formality, where “understandability” means that one can understand the calculation formula of a quality indicator easily and correctly, while “formality” means that the formula can be calculated to obtain the values of the indicator based on databases in a coherent manner.

Highlights

Quality indicators are measures of medical service quality that are represented by numerical values
This paper introduces a representation system Representation System of Quality Indicators (QI-RS) of quality indicators
QI-framework Though the purpose of this paper is to introduce a representation system QI-RS of quality indicators, this section briefly explains a framework to develop quality indicators and to calculate their values based on medical databases before entering upon a discussion of QI-RS

Summary

Introduction

Quality indicators are measures of medical service quality that are represented by numerical values. A quality indicator consists of a name (or a label) and a calculating formula. “fracture rate among inpatients aged 75 or older” is the name of a quality indicator, and its calculating formula is given as follows. Calculating Formula (CF1) (Nihon Hospital Organization 2009). The data of the quality indicator above is obtained by calculating the proportion of the following values. The number of inpatients that satisfy the condition defined in the denominator and that broke their bones in a hospital and received treatment for the fractures Numerator. the number of inpatients that satisfy the condition defined in the denominator and that broke their bones in a hospital and received treatment for the fractures

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Results

Conclusion